Printing apparatus, control method for printing apparatus, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

A printing apparatus capable of conveying sheets to a sheet processing apparatus and to control the type of a sheet to be used as a cover sheet in a case where a book bound product is generated by switching back sheets each having an image printed, inverting the sheets and folding the inverted sheets, and to notify an error to a user based on the type of a sheet to be used as the cover sheet in a case where printing an image on the cover sheet is designated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/832,904 filed Aug. 21, 2015, which claims the benefit of JapanesePatent Application No. 2014-171160, filed Aug. 26, 2014 and No.2015-138897 filed Jul. 10, 2015, which are hereby incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a control methodfor a printing apparatus, and a storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

In the past, printing apparatuses have been available each of whichincludes a sheet processing apparatus capable of executing a saddlestitch bookbinding process.

In the sheet processing apparatus, a plurality of sheets on which imagesare printed by the printing apparatus are stored, and the center of eachof the sheets are bound. The bound sheets are folded in two and areoutput in a book shape.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-142609 discloses a sheet processingapparatus which switches back a sheet having a printed image is switchedback within the sheet processing apparatus, stores a plurality of suchsheets, then finds the center of the sheets, folds the bound sheets intwo, and outputs it in a book shape.

Use of such a switch back mechanism allows common use of a part of asheet conveying path, and thus the size of the sheet processingapparatus may be reduced.

In a case where the mechanism for switching back a sheet is used, asheet discharged with its printed side facing up is to be switched back.Thus, after one side of a cover sheet is printed, the cover sheet isadded to the body without inverting the cover sheet. When a saddlestitch bookbinding process is executed, the printed side on which animage has been printed positions inside of the book bound product.

Inverting the cover sheet on which an image has been printed within amain body of the printing apparatus allows the book bound product withthe printed side on which the image has been printed facing outside.

However, some types of sheets such as cardboard having a large basisweight may not be inverted within a main body of a printing apparatus.When such a type of sheet is used as a cover sheet, a book bound producthaving an image printed on the outside of its cover sheet cannot begenerated.

Control in consideration of such a limitation has not been implementedin the past. Therefore, for example, a user may sometimes instruct toexecute a setting which is inhibited without realizing it.

Some printing apparatuses may discharge a sheet having a printed sidefacing down. When a sheet on which an image has been printed is switchedback and undergoes a saddle stitch bookbinding process in such aprinting apparatus, the printed side having a printed image positions onan outer side of the resulting book bound product.

By printing an image on a cover sheet and then inverting the cover sheetwithin a main body of the printing apparatus, the printed side having animage printed may face inside of the resulting book bound product.

However, some types of sheet such as cardboard having a large basisweight, may not be inverted within a main body of a printing apparatus.When such a type of sheet is used as a cover sheet, the resulting bookbound product may not have a cover sheet having an image printed on itsinner side.

Control in consideration of such a limitation has not been implementedin the past. Therefore, for example, a user may sometimes instruct toexecute a setting which is inhibited without realizing it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A printing apparatus capable of conveying sheets to a sheet processingapparatus in which the sheets each having an image printed is switchedback and the inverted sheets are folded to generate a book bound productincludes a printing unit configured to print an image on a cover sheetto be attached to the book bound product, and a control unit configuredto control so as to notify an error to a user based on the type of asheet to be used as the cover sheet in a case where printing an image onthe cover sheet is designated.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a section view illustrating a configuration of an imageformation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A to 2E are section view illustrating a part of a sheetprocessing apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the imageformation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of an operating unit according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A to 5F are diagrams for describing screens according to theembodiment.

FIGS. 6A to 6E are diagrams for describing screens according to theembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing a paper management table according toa first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A to 8F are diagrams for describing screens according to theembodiment.

FIGS. 9A to 9F are diagrams for describing screens according to theembodiment.

FIGS. 10A to 10F are diagrams for describing screens according to theembodiment.

FIGS. 11A to 11F are diagrams for describing screens according to theembodiment.

FIGS. 12A to 12C are diagrams for describing screens according to theembodiment.

FIGS. 13A to 13C are diagrams for describing screens according to theembodiment.

FIGS. 14A to 14C are diagrams for describing screens according to theembodiment.

FIGS. 15A to 15C are diagrams for describing screens according to theembodiment.

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate a document, images after layout processingand a printing result according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate a document, images after layout processingand a printing result according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate a document, images after layout processingand a printing result according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate a document, images after layout processingand a printing result according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate a flowchart for describing a controlexample according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 21A and 21B illustrate a flowchart for describing a controlexample according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 22A and 22B illustrate a flowchart for describing a controlexample according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for describing a screen according to theembodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for describing a screen according to theembodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram for describing a screen according to theembodiment.

FIG. 26 is a section view illustrating a configuration of a print systemincluding an image formation apparatus and a sheet processing apparatusaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for describing a paper management table accordingto the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 28A and 28B illustrate a document, images after layout processingand a printing result according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 29A and 29B illustrate a document, images after layout processingand a printing result according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 30A and 30B illustrate a document, images after layout processingand a printing result according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 31A and 31B illustrate a document, images after layout processingand a printing result according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 32A and 32B illustrate a flowchart for describing a controlexample according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 33A and 33B illustrate a flowchart for describing a controlexample according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 34A and 34B illustrate a flowchart for describing a controlexample according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail withreference to drawings. The following embodiments are not intended tolimit the claimed invention, and all of combinations of featuresaccording to the embodiments are not always required in the invention.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a print system including an imageformation apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus which are examplesof a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. The image formation apparatus is connected to the sheetprocessing apparatus via a conveying path and is capable of conveying asheet to the sheet processing apparatus.

According to this embodiment, the printing apparatus may be an imageformation apparatus (MFP) having a plurality of functions such as acopying function, a printer function, a facsimile function, for example.However, the image formation apparatus may be an image formationapparatus (SFP) having one function of a copying function, a printerfunction, and a facsimile function. The term “MFP” stands for MultiFunctional Peripheral. The term “SFP” stands for Single FunctionPeripheral.

Referring to FIG. 1, the image formation apparatus includes a scanner301, an auto document feeder (ADF) 302, a print engine 313 having apolychrome 4-color drum, and a deck 354.

First of all, a reading operation to be performed by the scanner 301will be described.

In order to set a document on a platen glass and execute a readingoperation thereon, a user may set a document on a platen glass 307 andclose an ADF 302. If an open/close sensor detects that the ADF 302 hasbeen closed, a reflective document-size sensor placed within a housingof the scanner 301 detects the size of the document set on the platenglass.

If the size of the document has been detected, the light source 310radiates light to the document, and the irradiated light enters to theCCD 343 through a reflector 311 and a lens 312. The CCD 343 converts theentering light to a digital signal and transmits it to a controller forthe scanner 301. The controller performs a desired image process on thereceived digital signal and converts it to a laser printing signal andstores it as image data in a memory.

In order to perform a reading operation on a document set on the ADF302, a user may set a document with its face up on a tray of a documentsetting unit 303 in the ADF 302. If a document is placed, a documentpresence/absence sensor detects that document setting has beenperformed. If the document presence/absence sensor detects that thedocument setting has been performed, the controller rotates a documentfeed roller and conveying belt and thus conveys the document to apredetermined reading position on the platen glass 307. When thedocument has been conveyed to the predetermined reading position, thecontroller performs a reading operation on the document and stores imagedata generated by the reading operation performed on the document in amemory. The document having undergone the reading operation completelyis discharged to the document paper discharge tray 309 through theconveyance roller.

In a case where a plurality of documents exist on the ADF 302, thecontroller discharges a document having undergone the reading operationcompletely and at the same time feeds the next document by using afeeding roller and performs a reading operation on the next document.Thus, the reading operations performed on a plurality of documents.

Next, a print operation to be performed by a printer 313 will bedescribed.

A print signal (print image data) once stored in a memory within thecontroller is transferred to the printer 313 and is converted, in alaser printing unit, to print laser beams for colors of Yellow, Magenta,Cyan and Black. Then, the print laser beams are irradiated tophotosensitive bodies 316 for those colors to form an electrostaticlatent image on the photosensitive bodies.

The electrostatic latent image is then developed with toner suppliedfrom a toner cartridge 317, and the visualized image is primarilytransferred to an intermediate transfer belt 321. After that, theintermediate transfer belt 321 rotates clockwise, and when a sheetconveyed from one of cassettes 350 to 353 or deck 354 through a fedpaper conveying path 319 reaches a secondary transfer position 320, theimage is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 321 to thesheet.

The image transferred to the sheet is fixed by pressing and with heat inthe fixing unit 322, and the sheet is conveyed to the dischargeconveying path. The sheet is discharged to a sheet discharge port 325connecting to the sheet processing apparatus 315. A flapper 326 is amechanism for switching between two modes of a straight discharge modeand a paper reverse and discharge mode. In a case where the flapper 326positions at a lower position, a sheet is discharged with its printedside facing up (straight discharge). On the other hand, in a case wherethe flapper 326 positions at an upper part, a sheet is conveyed to alower conveying path. In order to reverse a sheet, the sheet conveyed toa reversing unit 348 is switch backed and reversed so that the sheet maybe conveyed to the sheet discharge port 325 with its printed side facingdown (paper reverse and discharge).

In a double-sided printing operation, after a sheet passes through thefixing unit 322 and undergoes printing of an image on a first side ofthe sheet, the flapper 326 is changed its position to an upper part, andthe sheet is conveyed to the reversing unit 348. Then, after the sheetis conveyed to the reversing unit 348, the flapper 327 is changed so asto convey the sheet to a conveying path 330 for double-sided printing.The switching back allows conveyance of the sheet to the secondarytransfer position 320 again through the conveying path 330 fordouble-sided printing. Then, an image is printed on a second side of thesheet.

With reference to FIGS. 2A to 2E, operations to be performed by thesheet processing apparatus 315 will be described next. FIGS. 2A to 2Eillustrate a part of the sheet processing apparatus 315 illustrated inFIG. 1.

The sheet processing apparatus 315 performs a sheet process(post-processing) on a sheet in accordance with settings designated by auser.

Exemplary sheet processes executable by the sheet processing apparatus315 may include stapling (one-position and two-position stapling),punching (two-, three-, and four-hole punching), and saddle-stitchbookbinding processes.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the sheet processing apparatus 315 includesconveyance rollers 31 to 39, front end sensors 50 and 53 and a rear endsensor 48, a stapler 42, a veneer 43, a stopper 44, folding rollers 45and 46, and a bundle conveying roller pair 47.

The sheet processing apparatus 315 may operate in accordance with acommand from a controller unit in the image formation apparatus or maybe operated by a propriety controller.

A sheet conveyed from the image formation apparatus is discharged to oneof stacking trays 328 and 329 and a saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331in accordance with the type of sheet processing set by a user.

For example, in a case where no sheet processing is executed, a sheet isdischarged to the stacking tray 328. On the other hand, in a case wherea user has set to execute a staple process, a sheet is discharge do thestacking tray 329. In order to execute a saddle stitch bookbindingprocess, a sheet is discharged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray331.

A case where a saddle stitch bookbinding process is to be executed willbe described in detail with reference to FIG. 2A to 2E.

The sheet conveyed from the image formation apparatus is conveyed by theconveyance rollers 31, 37, and 38 until a rear end of the sheet mayreach the rear end sensor 48, as illustrated in FIG. 2A. If the rear endsensor 48 detects the rear end of the sheet, the conveyance rollers 37and 38 holding the sheet stop.

Next, the sheet is switched back by the reverse rotation of theconveyance rollers 37 and 38 and is conveyed by the conveyance roller 36until a leading edge of the sheet reaches the front end sensor 50, asillustrated in FIG. 2B. If the front end sensor 50 detects the leadingedge of the sheet, the conveyance roller 36 holding the sheetdecelerates, and the leading edge of the sheet comes to a nip of a skewcorrection roller 51.

Even after the leading edge of the sheet comes to the nip of the skewcorrection roller 51, the conveyance roller 36 keeps rotating for awhile. After the sheet forms a loop in a loop space, the conveyanceroller 36 stops.

Next, the skew correction roller 51 starts rotating. When a sheet skews,the skew correction roller 51 corrects the skew. The skew-correctedsheet is conveyed toward the conveyance roller 39. If the leading edgeof the sheet is detected by the front end sensor 53, the sheet isconveyed by a predetermined amount from the time point. The leading edgeof the sheet then comes to the stopper 44, as illustrated in FIG. 2C.

Here, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, the sheet is positioned by the stopper44 such that the binding position with the stapler 42 may be at thecenter of the sheet. Repeating these operations sequentially convey aplurality of sheets to the inside of a conveying path 41.

After all sheets included in the book bound product are conveyed to theinside of the conveying path 41, these sheets are aligned by a widthdirection aligning plate, not illustrated, in a width direction. Then, asheet bundle is formed within the conveying path 41.

In this case, the sheets are conveyed sequentially from an innermostsheet of the book bound product to the inside of the conveying path 41,and a sheet corresponding to a cover sheet of the book bound product isconveyed lastly.

In a case where a saddle stitch bookbinding process is set to beexecuted, a stapler 42 is configured to execute a binding process on thesheet bundle. When the sheet bundle is bound by the stapler 42, astopper 44 supporting the sheet bundle moves toward the downstream ofthe conveyance direction. With this, the sheet bundle moves toward thedownstream of the conveyance direction as illustrated in FIG. 2D.

The stopper 44 positions the sheet bundle such that the center of thesheet bundle may be matched with the position of the veneer 43. Then, aleading edge of the veneer 43 is abutted against a part where a foldline is to be formed on the sheet bundle positioned by the stopper 44and press the sheet bundle into nips of folding rollers 45 and 46 toform a fold line on the sheet bundle. The sheet bundle having the foldline formed by the folding rollers 45 and 46 is output to asaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331 through a bundle conveying rollerpair 47 as illustrated in FIG. 2E.

Next, details of a hardware configuration of a controller including animage formation apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

A main controller 401 includes a CPU 402, a bus controller 403, and I/Fcontroller circuits.

The CPU 402 and the bus controller 403 are configured to generallycontrol operations of the whole apparatus.

The CPU 402 operates based on a program read from a ROM 404 through aROM I/F 405. An operation for interpreting PDL (page descriptionlanguage) code data received from an external PC and rasterizing it toraster image data is also described in the program and is processed bysoftware. The bus controller 403 is configured to control transfer ofdata input and output through I/Fs and control bus arbitration and DMAdata transfer.

A DRAM 406 is connected to a main controller 401 through a DRAM I/F 407and is usable as a work area usable by the CPU 402 for operations and anarea for storing image data.

A codec (Codec in FIG. 3) 408 is configured to compress raster imagedata stored in the DRAM 406 in MH/MR/MMR/JBIG/JPEG or the like and,conversely, decompresses stored compressed code data to raster imagedata.

The SRAM 409 is usable as a temporary work area for the codec 408. Thecodec 408 is connected to the main controller 401 through an I/F 410.The data transfer between the codec 408 and the DRAM 406 is controlledby the bus controller 403 to be DMA transfer.

A graphics processor (Graphic in FIG. 3) 424 is configured to performimage rotation, image magnification, color-space conversion,binarization processes on raster image data stored in the DRAM 406.

The SRAM 425 is usable as a temporary work area for the graphicsprocessor 424. The graphics processor 424 is connected to the maincontroller 401 through an I/F. The data transfer between the graphicsprocessor 424 and the DRAM 406 is controlled by the bus controller 403to be DMA transfer.

A network controller 411 is connected is connected to the maincontroller 401 through an I/F 413 and is connected to an externalnetwork through a connector 412. Ethernet (registered trademark) is ageneral example of the external network. Print data received from anexternal PC is received and is transmitted to the CPU 402 under controlof the network controller 411. The CPU 402 stores and processes thereceived print data in the DRAM 406 or an HD (hard disk) 440.

An extension connector 414 and an I/O control unit 416 are connected toa general-purpose high speed bus 415. According to this embodiment,commands are transmitted and received from and to the sheet processingapparatus 315 through the general-purpose high speed bus 415.

The I/O control unit 416 includes a serial communication controller 417having two channels for transmitting and receiving control commands toand from CPUs in a scanner unit and a printer unit. The I/O control unit416 is connected to a scanner I/F circuit 426 and a printer I/F circuit430 through an I/O bus 418.

A panel I/F 421 is connected to the LCD controller 420 and includes anI/F usable for displaying a screen on a liquid crystal display on anoperating unit 501 illustrated in FIG. 4 and a key input I/F usable forhardware keys and touch panel keys. Details of the operating unit 501will be described below.

A real time clock module 422 is configured to update/store dates andtimes for management within the apparatus and is backed up by a backupbattery 423.

An E-IDE I/F 439 is configured to connect an external memory. Accordingto this exemplary embodiment, the CPU 402 connects to a hard disk drive438 though the E-IDE I/F 439 for performing operations including storingimage data in the hard disk 440 and reading out image data from the harddisk 440. Connectors 427 and 432 are connected to a scanner unit and aprinter unit, respectively and include an asynchronization serial I/Fs(428, 433) and video I/F (429, 434).

The scanner I/F 426 is connected to a scanner unit through the connector427 and is connected to the main controller 401 through a scanner bus441 and has a function for performing a predetermined process on animage received from the scanner unit. The scanner I/F 426 has a functionfor outputting a control signal generated based on a video controlsignal transmitted from the scanner unit to the scanner bus 429. Datatransfer from the scanner bus 429 to the DRAM 406 is controlled by thebus controller 403.

The printer I/F 430 is connected to a printer unit through the connector432 and is connected to the main controller 401 through the printer bus431. The printer I/F 430 has a function for performing a predeterminedprocess on image data output from the main controller 401 and outputtingthe result to the printer unit. The printer I/F 430 further has afunction of outputting a control signal generated based on a videocontrol signal received from the printer unit to the printer bus 431.Raster image data rasterized on the DRAM 406 to a printer unit istransferred under control of the bus controller 403 and is DMAtransferred to the printer unit through the printer bus 431 and videoI/F 434.

An SRAM 436 is a memory configured to hold data stored therein withpower supply from the backup battery even when the whole apparatus ispowered-off and is connected to the I/O control unit through the bus435. An EEPROM 437 is also a memory connected to the I/O control unitthrough the bus 435.

Next, the operating unit 501 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

The operating unit 501 has a liquid crystal display unit, a touch panelinput device attached to the liquid crystal display unit and a pluralityof hardware keys.

Through the operating unit 501, a user is allowed to define a settingsuch as job settings and apparatus settings for the image formationapparatus.

A reset key 502 is a key for cancelling a set value defined by a user.

A stop key 503 is a key for aborting a job in operation.

A numeric keypad 504 is a key for inputting a numerical value such as asubstituted number.

A display unit 505 has a touch panel and a liquid crystal display unitwhich are integral and may display various screens based on instructionsfrom the CPU 402 on the liquid crystal display unit and receive aninstruction user through the touch panel. The liquid crystal displayunit may display an operation screen for operating the image formationapparatus and display image data to be printed, for example. A signalinput through the touch panel or hardware keys is transmitted to the CPU402 through the panel I/F 421.

The start key 506 is a key for starting a job such as reading adocument.

A clear key 507 is a key for clearing a setting.

A lamp 508 lights up while a job is being executed and in response tooccurrence of an error in the image formation apparatus and sheetprocessing apparatus 315 to notify a state of the apparatus to a user.

Next, a procedure for setting a bookbinding process through screensdisplayed on the display unit 505 in the operating unit 501 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 5A to 6E.

When a user defines setting for executing a bookbinding process, theimage formation apparatus generates an image having a page having a setlayout to be printed and executes printing in accordance with thegenerated image. The sheet processing apparatus 315 performs a propersheet process based on a setting.

FIGS. 5A to 5F schematically illustrate an example of a screentransition of binding setting screens to be displayed on the displayunit 505 in order for a user to set sheets to be used in a book boundproduct.

A copy default screen 1001 is to be displayed on the display unit 505.An item “AUTOMATIC PAPER SELECTION” on a copy default screen 1001indicates that an automatic paper selection is set whereby a properpaper is selected automatically based on a setting for executing a copyoperation.

In a case where it is detected that a “BOOK BINDING” key 1101 has beenpressed, the CPU 402 displays a binding portal screen 1002. The portalscreen 1002 displays a “SET LAYOUT” key 1102 and an “ORIGINAL LAYOUT”key 1103. The “SET LAYOUT” key 1102 is a key for instructing to lay outan image on a document read by the scanner 301 to right or left of asheet. Images on documents are rearranged such that the images may beprinted on sheets in the page order for binding when the sheets arefolded. The “ORIGINAL LAYOUT” key 1103 is a key usable for instructingto lay out images of one document read by the scanner 301 on one sheetas they are on the document.

The portal screen 1002 displays a “FOLD+SADDLE STITCH” key 1104, a “NOFOLD” key 1105, and a “FOLD ONLY” key 1106 usable for setting a finishof a book bound product. A bookbinding may vary according to thefollowing three forms of finish:

Form 1: Folding+saddle stitch (saddle stitch bookbinding process),Form 2: Folding only (center-folding and binding process), andForm 3: No folding (binding layout process)

In Form 1, sheets having undergone printing in the image formationapparatus are conveyed to the sheet processing apparatus 315 and arestored at a position illustrated in FIG. 2D within the sheet processingapparatus 315 through the stopper 44. Then, when a predetermined numberof printed sheets are stored, a binding process is performed which bindsthe sheets at the center with the stapler 42. After that, the sheetshaving undergone the binding process undergoes a folding process inwhich the veneer 43 and folding rollers 45 and 46 fold the sheets intotwo. The folded sheets are conveyed by the bundle conveying roller pair47 and are discharged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. On theportal screen 1002, in a case where the CPU 402 detects that the“FOLD+SADDLE STITCH” key 1104 has been pressed, the “FOLD+SADDLE STITCH”key 1104 is highlighted to set to execute the saddle stitch bookbindingprocess in Form 1.

In a case of Form 2, the sheets printed in image formation apparatus areconveyed to the sheet processing apparatus 315 and are stored at aposition illustrated in FIG. 2D inside the sheet processing apparatus315. When a predetermined number of printed sheets are stored therein,the stored sheets undergo a folding process which folds the sheets intotwo with the veneer 43 and folding rollers 45 and 46 and are conveyed tothe bundle conveying roller pair 47 and are discharged to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. In this case, the binding process isnot executed. On the portal screen 1002, if the CPU 402 detects that the“FOLD ONLY” key 1106 has been pressed, “FOLD ONLY” key 1106 ishighlighted to set to execute the center-folding and binding process inForm 2.

In a case of Form 3, page images are laid out for binding, but theresulting sheets are discharged without performing the binding processand the folding process. In this case, the sheets are discharged to astacking tray 328 instead of the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. Auser may use a sheet processing apparatus specially for binding which iscalled an offline finisher to execute the binding process or the foldingprocess on sheets and thus acquire a book bound product. On the portalscreen 1002, if the CPU 402 detects that the “NO FOLD” key 1105 has beenpressed, the “NO FOLD” key 1105 is highlighted to set to execute abinding layout process in Form 3.

The portal screen 1002 further displays a “COVER” key 1107 for settingwhether a cover sheet is attached to a book bound product or not and a“RIGHTWARD OR LEFTWARD” key 1108 for setting whether a book boundproduct is to be opened leftward or rightward. The portal screen 1002further displays a “CHANGE” key 1109 for setting a size of a document tobe read by the scanner 301, a “DOUBLE-SIDED DOCUMENT” key 1110 forsetting whether a given document is double-sided or not, and a “CHANGE”key 1111 for setting sheets to be used in a book bound product.

On the portal screen 1002, if the CPU 402 detects that the “CHANGE” key1111 for setting sheets to be used in a book bound product has beenpressed, a sheet selection screen 1003 is displayed. The sheet selectionscreen 1003 displays a vertical list of sizes and names of types ofsheets stored in the cassettes 350 to 353 and the deck 354 so that auser may select a target paper type used for a book bound product. Thesheet selection screen 1003 indicates that sheets having a size of A3and a name “plain paper (64 g to 105 g/m2)” are stored in the cassette350. On the sheet selection screen 1003, a row 1112 corresponding to thecassette 350 is highlighted to indicate that the cassette 350 is beingselected for sheets to be used in a book bound product. On the otherhand, it is indicated that the cassette 351 stores sheets of a papertype having a size of A3 and a name “CARDBOARD 1 (106 to 150 g/m2)”, andthat the cassette 352 stores sheets having a size A3 and a name“CARDBOARD 2 (151 to 220 g/m2)”. It is further indicated that thecassette 353 stores sheets having a size A3 and a name “CARDBOARD 3 (221to 256 g/m2)” and that the deck 354 stores sheets having a size A3 and aname “CARDBOARD 4 (257 to 300 g/m2)”.

On the sheet selection screen 1003, if the CPU 402 detects that a row1113 corresponding to the cassette 351 has been pressed, a row 1114corresponding to the cassette 351 as illustrated on the sheet selectionscreen 1004 is highlighted.

On the sheet selection screen 1004, if the CPU 402 detects that an “OK”key 1115 has been pressed, a binding portal screen 1005 is displayed. Onthe binding portal screen 1005, a display field 1116 indicates thatsheets to be used for a book bound product are to be fed from thecassette 351.

On the portal screen 1005, if the CPU 402 detects that an “OK” key 1117has been pressed, a copy default screen 1006 is displayed. The displayfield 1118 on the copy default screen 1006 indicates that sets forperforming binding have been defined. The CPU 402 pre-holds in the DRAM406 the settings received through the screens illustrated in FIGS. 5A to5F.

If a start key 506 is pressed with the portal screen 1005 or copydefault screen 1006 displayed, the CPU 402 starts a document readingoperation and a print operation and sheet processing control performedby a printer unit in accordance with the settings stored in the DRAM406.

By performing these operations as described above, a user may acquire abook bound product having undergone the saddle stitch bookbindingprocess, center-folding, binding process and binding layout process.

A user is also allowed to instruct to attach a cover sheet to the bookbound product having undergone the saddle stitch bookbinding process,center-folding and binding process and binding layout process. A user isalso allowed to set a location in a cover sheet where an image is to beprinted and a paper type of a cover sheet. The cover sheet may bedefined by pressing the “COVER” key 1301 on a portal screen 1201 in FIG.6A.

The portal screen 1201 in FIG. 6A is the same screen as the portalscreen illustrated in FIG. 5B and is displayed on the display unit 505.

If it is detected that a “COVER” key 1301 has been pressed on the portalscreen 1201, the CPU 402 causes the display unit 505 to display asetting screen 1202 for setting a print position on a cover sheet. Anexample in a case where “LEFTWARD” is set through the “RIGHTWARD ORLEFTWARD” key 1108 on the portal screen 1201 will be described.

The setting screen 1202 displays a “PRINT” key 1302 and “NOT PRINT” key1303 for setting whether a print is to be performed on a front side of acover sheet to be attached to a leftward book bound product. The frontside of a cover sheet to be attached to a leftward book bound productrefers to a surface positioned on the outer side of the front cover ofthe leftward book bound product as indicated by the icon displayed tothe right of the “BACK SIDE OF FRONT COVER” in FIG. 6B.

The setting screen 1202 further displays a “PRINT” key 1304 and a “NOTPRINT” key 1305 for setting whether printing is to be performed on aback side of a cover sheet to be attached to a leftward book boundproduct. The back side of a cover sheet of a leftward book bound productrefers to a surface positioned on an inner side of a front cover of theleftward book bound product as indicated by the icon displayed to theright of “BACK SIDE OF FRONT COVER” in FIG. 6B.

The setting screen 1202 further displays a “PRINT” key 1306 and a “NOTPRINT” key 1307 for setting whether printing is to be performed on afront side of a back cover to be attached to a leftward book boundproduct or not. The front side of a back cover to be attached to aleftward book bound product refers to a surface positioned on the innerside of a back cover of a leftward book bound product as indicated bythe icon displayed to the right of “FRONT SIDE OF BACK COVER” in FIG.6B.

The setting screen 1202 further displays a “PRINT” key 1308 and a “NOTPRINT” key 1309 for setting whether printing is to be performed on aback side of a back cover to be attached to a leftward book boundproduct or not. The back side of a back cover to be attached to aleftward book bound product refers to a surface positioned on the outerside of a back cover of a leftward book bound product as indicated bythe icon displayed to the right of the “BACK SIDE OF BACK COVER” in FIG.6B.

The setting screen 1202 further displays a “CHANGE” key 1310 for settingpaper to be used for a cover sheet to be attached to a book boundproduct.

On the setting screen 1202, if the CPU 402 detects that the “CHANGE” key1310 has been pressed for setting paper to be used for a cover sheet tobe attached to a book bound product, a sheet selection screen 1203 isdisplayed. The sheet selection screen 1203 displays a vertical list ofsizes and names of types of sheets stored in the cassettes 350 to 353and the deck 354 so that a user may select a target paper type used fora cover sheet of a book bound product. On the sheet selection screen1203, a row 1311 corresponding to the cassette 351 is highlighted toindicate that the cassette 351 is being selected for paper to be used asa cover sheet to be attached to a book bound product.

On the sheet selection screen 1203, if the CPU 402 detects that an “OK”key 1312 has been pressed, a screen 1204 is displayed for setting aprint position on the cover sheet. Here, in a case where all of “PRINT”keys 1313 to 1316 are highlighted on the screen 1204, printing isperformed on all surfaces of the cover sheet to be attached to a bookbound product.

On the screen 1204, if the CPU 402 detects that an “OK” key 1317 hasbeen pressed, a binding portal screen 1205 is displayed where a “COVER”key 1318 is highlighted to indicate the settings for the cover sheet ofa book bound product have been completely defined. The CPU 402 holds thesettings received through the screens as illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6Ein the DRAM 406.

When the start key 506 is pressed with the portal screen 1205 displayed,the CPU 402 starts a document reading operation and a print operationand sheet processing control performed by a printer unit in accordancewith the settings stored in the DRAM 406. If the OK key on the portalscreen 1205 is pressed and proper settings are defined, a copy defaultscreen is displayed. Even if the start key 506 is pressed with the copydefault screen displayed, the CPU 402 starts a document readingoperation and a print operation and sheet processing control performedby a printer unit in accordance with the settings stored in the DRAM406.

By performing these operations as described above, a user is allowed toselect a desired paper type as a type of a sheet to be used for a coversheet. A user is also allowed to instruct to print an image on a desiredsurface of a cover sheet. Thus, a user can acquire a leftward book boundproduct having a desired cover sheet.

In a case where an image is to be printed on a cover sheet, an imageread by the scanner 301 may be laid out and printed also on a surfaceinstructed to print. For example, in a case where printing on the frontside of a front cover is instructed, the CPU 402 lays out an image ofthe first page of a document on a front side of front cover. On theother hand, in a case where printing on the back side of a front coveris instructed, the CPU 402 lays out an image of the first page of adocument on the back side of a front cover. On the other hand, in a casewhere printing on the back side of a back cover is instructed, the CPU402 lays out an image of the last page of a document on the back side ofthe back cover. Thus, after an image is laid out on a cover sheet, theCPU 402 lays out images of other pages of the document in page order forbinding and controls so as to print the laid out images on sheets forbody.

Various settings may be defined as described above. However, due to thestructure of the sheet processing apparatus 315 illustrated in FIG. 1, abook bound product which satisfies the settings may not be output.

More specifically, the sheet processing apparatus 315 switches back bothof the body and the cover sheet of a book bound product and stores thesheets with a stopper within the conveying path 41.

The sheet to be used as a cover sheet undergoes image printing after theprinting on the body and then is added to the body. In a case where thesheet to be used as the cover sheet is a sheet allowing double-sidedprinting through the conveying path 330 for double-sided printing, theimage formation apparatus is allowed to print an image on a desiredsurface as in the body.

On the other hand, in a case where a sheet to be sued as the cover sheetdoes not allow double-sided printing through the conveying path 330 fordouble-sided printing, the surface on which an image has been formedlastly of the sheet without being inverted comes to the inner side ofthe book bound product. It is desirable if a user intends to print animage on the inner side of the cover sheet of the book bound product.However, the book bound product acquired in that case is different fromthe book bound product intended by the user in a case where the userintends to print an image on the outer side of the cover sheet of thebook bound product.

Some types of paper may be inverted by the reversing unit 348 thoughthey cannot pass through the conveying path 330 for double-sidedprinting. For such types of paper, it is controlled such that a coversheet having an image printed at a position desired by a user may beadded by inverting the sheet as required in accordance with the surfaceset by the user to print the image. However, because such types of papercannot pass through the conveying path 330 for double-sided printing,there is a limitation that an image is not allowed to be printed on bothof the front side and back side of the sheet.

Some types of paper cannot pass through both of the conveying path 330for double-sided printing and the reversing unit 348. Such types ofpaper may allow an image to be printed only on an inner side of a bookbound product.

In consideration of such limitations and based on the set type of paperfor a cover sheet and the set side of the sheet for printing an image,the image formation apparatus according to this embodiment performs thefollowing control. More specifically, the image formation apparatusdisplays a warning in a case where an unexecutable setting is definedwhile the image formation apparatus generates a book bound product basedon defined settings if the settings are executable.

A procedure for controlling such that printing is inhibited fromstarting with unexecutable settings based on a paper management tableillustrated in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to screensillustrated in FIGS. 8A to 15C. The paper management table in FIG. 7 isstored in HD 440.

The paper management table defines each paper type with respect towhether it allows double-sided printing performed by the printer 313 ornot, whether it allows reversing and discharging in the printer 313 ornot, or whether it is usable as a cover sheet to be attached to a bookbound product. The paper management table manages a plurality of papertypes usable for printing including plain paper, cardboard 1, cardboard2, cardboard 3, and cardboard 4. These paper types have different basisweights on which whether it is double-side printable or not, whether itis reversible to discharge and whether it is usable as a cover sheet aredependent. Therefore, the paper management table manages each of thepaper types with respect to whether it is double-side printable or not,whether it is reversible to discharge and whether it is usable as acover sheet. It should be noted that the paper types to be managed arenot limited to those paper types above and that other paper types suchas recycled paper and coated paper. A paper type may be registered by auser through the operating unit 501. In a case where a paper type isregistered, the CPU 402 may prompt to further register the basis weight,whether it is double-side printable or not, whether it is reversible todischarge and whether it is usable as a cover sheet.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, sheets corresponding to plain paper, cardboard1, and cardboard 2 are all double-side printable, are reversible todischarge, and are usable as a cover sheet to be attached to a bookbound product. On the other hand, sheets corresponding to cardboard 3and cardboard 4 do not allow printing images on their both sides.Therefore, control may be required so as to inhibit printing images onboth size of a cover sheet to be attached to a book bound product.However, because a sheet corresponding to cardboard 3 is reversible todischarge, control may be required so as to allow printing an image onone of the inner and outer sides of a cover sheet to be attached to abook bound product. On the other hand, because a sheet corresponding tocardboard 4 is not reversible to discharge, control may be required soas to inhibit printing an image on an inner side of a cover sheet to beattached to a book bound product to discharge it to the stacking tray328. Because a sheet corresponding to cardboard 4 is not reversible todischarge, control may be required so as to inhibit printing an image onan outer side of a cover sheet to be attached to a book bound product todischarge it to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331.

FIGS. 8A to 8F are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of ascreen transition of a binding setting screen displayed on the displayunit 505 in a case where a user defines settings for discharging aleftward book bound product to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331.

A portal screen 1801 is a binding portal screen to be displayed on thedisplay unit 505. On the portal screen 1801, a “FOLD+SADDLE STITCH” key1902 is highlighted which indicates that a book bound product is to bedischarged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331.

If the CPU 402 detects on the portal screen 1801 that a “COVER” key 1903has been pressed, a setting screen 1802 is displayed on which a printposition of a cover sheet is set.

If the CPU 402 detects on the setting screen 1802 that a “CHANGE” key1904 has been pressed, a sheet selection screen 1803 is displayed. Onthe sheet selection screen 1803, a row 1905 corresponding to thecassette 353 storing sheets of a paper type having a size of A3 and aname “CARDBOARD 3 (221 to 256 g/m2)” so as to indicate the paper type isselected to be used as a cover sheet to be attached to the book boundproduct.

If the CPU 402 detects on the sheet selection screen 1803 that the “OK”key 1906 has been pressed, a setting screen 1804 is display where aprint position on a cover sheet is set. In a case where all of the“PRINT” keys 1907 to 1910 are selected and are highlighted asillustrated on the setting screen 1804, double-sided printing on a coversheet by using “cardboard 3 (221 to 256 g/m2)” is set here. However,double-sided printing may not be executed on “cardboard 3 (221 to 256g/m2)” as illustrated in the paper management table illustrated in FIG.7.

If the CPU 402 detects that the “OK” key 1911 has been pressed on thesetting screen 1804, the binding portal screen 1805 is displayed wherethe “COVER” key 1912 is highlighted indicating that the setting forcovering a book bound product has completed. The CPU 402 holds thesettings received through the screens illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8F inthe DRAM 406.

If the start key 506 is pressed with the portal screen 1805 displayed,the CPU 402 provides a display warning 1806 that binding using thecardboard 3 as a cover sheet is not allowed to be set based on thesettings stored in the DRAM 406 and the paper management tableillustrated in FIG. 7.

On the portal screen 1805, if the CPU 402 detects that “OK” key 1913 hasbeen pressed, it may be controlled so as to provide the display warning1806 based on the settings stored in the DRAM 406 and the papermanagement table illustrated in FIG. 7.

In a case where, as illustrated in FIGS. 12A to 12C, the setting forperforming double-sided printing on a cover sheet is defined previously,the CPU 402 may shade a row 2701 corresponding to the cassette 353storing paper of cardboard 3 on the sheet selection screen 2601 so as toinhibit a user from selecting it. Because double-sided printing is notallowed to perform on cardboard 4 either, the CPU 402 may shade a rowcorresponding to the deck 354 storing paper of cardboard 4 on the screenillustrated in FIGS. 12A to 12C so as to inhibit a user from selectingit.

FIGS. 9A to 9F are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of ascreen transition of a binding setting screen to be displayed on thedisplay unit 505 in a case where a user defines a setting fordischarging a leftward book bound product to the saddle-stitchbookbinding tray 331.

A portal screen 2001 is a binding portal screen to be displayed on thedisplay unit 505. On the portal screen 2001, a “FOLD+SADDLE STITCH” key2102 is highlighted. This indicates that a book bound product is to bedischarged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331.

If the CPU 402 detects on the portal screen 2001 that a “COVER” key 2103has been pressed, a setting screen 2002 is displayed for setting a printposition on a cover sheet.

If the CPU 402 detects on the setting screen 2002 that the “CHANGE” key2104 has been pressed, a sheet selection screen 2003 is displayed. Onthe sheet selection screen 2003, a row 2105 corresponding to the deck354 storing paper having a size of A3 and a name of “cardboard 4 (257 to300 g/m2)” is highlighted to indicate that it is selected as paper to beused for a cover sheet to be attached to a book bound product.

If the CPU 402 detects on the sheet selection screen 2003 that the “OK”key 2106 has been pressed, a setting screen 2004 is displayed forsetting a print position on a cover sheet. Here, “PRINT” keys 2107 and2108 highlighted as on the setting screen 2004 indicate that printing isto be performed on the outer side of a cover sheet of “cardboard 4 (257to 300 g/m2)”. However, because double-sided printing and inversingcannot be executed on cardboard 4 as in the paper management tableillustrated in FIG. 7, a cover sheet having an image printed on itsouter side may not be added to the body.

If the CPU 402 detects on the setting screen 2004 that the “OK” key 2109has been pressed, a binding portal screen 2005 is displayed, and a“COVER” key 2110 is highlighted. This indicates that the setting forattaching a cover sheet to a book bound product has completed. The CPU402 holds the settings received through the screens illustrated in FIGS.9A to 9F in the DRAM 406.

If the start key 506 is pressed with the portal screen 2005 displayed,the CPU 402 provides a display warning 2006 that binding using cardboard4 as a cover sheet is not allowed to be set based on the settings storedin the DRAM 406 and the paper management table illustrated in FIG. 7.

On the portal screen 2005, if the CPU 402 detects that “OK” key 2111 hasbeen pressed, it may be controlled so as to provide the display warning2006 based on the settings stored in the DRAM 406 and the papermanagement table illustrated in FIG. 7.

In a case where, as illustrated in FIGS. 13A to 13C, the setting forperforming printing on the outer side of a cover sheet is definedpreviously, the CPU 402 may shade a row 2901 corresponding to the deck354 storing paper of cardboard 4 on the sheet selection screen 2801 soas to inhibit a user from selecting it. Because cardboard 3 can beinversed, the CPU 402 may display, on the screens illustrated in FIGS.13A to 13C, the row corresponding to the cassette 353 storing paper ofcardboard 3 as being selectable by a user.

While FIGS. 8A to 9F illustrate control examples in a case where a userdefines settings for discharging a leftward book bound product to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331, FIGS. 10A to 10F and FIGS. 11A to11F illustrate control examples in a case where a user defines settingfor discharging a leftward book bound product to the stacking tray 328.

FIGS. 10A to 10F are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of ascreen transition of a binding setting screen displayed on the displayunit 505 in a case where a user defines settings for discharging aleftward book bound product to the stacking tray 328.

A portal screen 1401 is a screen to be displayed on the display unit 505for setting binding. On the portal screen 1401, a “NO FOLD” key 1502 ishighlighted which indicates that a book bound product is to bedischarged to the stacking tray 328.

If the CPU 402 detects on the portal screen 1401 that a “COVER” key 1503has been pressed, a setting screen 1402 is displayed on which a printposition of a cover sheet is set.

If the CPU 402 detects on the setting screen 1402 that a “CHANGE” key1504 has been pressed, a sheet selection screen 1403 is displayed. Onthe sheet selection screen 1403, a row 1505 corresponding to thecassette 353 storing sheets of a paper type having a size of A3 and aname “CARDBOARD 3 (221 to 256 g/m2)” so as to indicate the paper type isselected to be used as a cover sheet to be attached to the book boundproduct.

If the CPU 402 detects on the sheet selection screen 1403 that the “OK”key 1906 has been pressed, a setting screen 1404 is display where aprint position on a cover sheet is set. In a case where all of the“PRINT” keys 1507 to 1510 are selected and are highlighted asillustrated on the setting screen 1404, double-sided printing on a coversheet by using “cardboard 3 (221 to 256 g/m2)” is set here. However,double-sided printing may not be executed on “cardboard 3 (221 to 256g/m2)” as illustrated in the paper management table illustrated in FIG.7.

If the CPU 402 detects that the “OK” key 1511 has been pressed on thesetting screen 1404, the binding portal screen 1405 is displayed wherethe “COVER” key 1512 is highlighted indicating that the setting forcovering a book bound product has completed. The CPU 402 holds thesettings received through the screens illustrated in FIGS. 10A to 10F inthe DRAM 406.

If the start key 506 is pressed with the portal screen 1405 displayed,the CPU 402 provides a display warning 1406 that binding using cardboard3 as a cover sheet is not allowed to be set based on the settings storedin the DRAM 406 and the paper management table illustrated in FIG. 7.

On the portal screen 1405, if the CPU 402 detects that “OK” key 1513 hasbeen pressed, it may be controlled so as to provide the display warning1406 based on the settings stored in the DRAM 406 and the papermanagement table illustrated in FIG. 7.

In a case where, as illustrated in FIGS. 14A to 14C, the setting forperforming double-sided printing on a cover sheet is defined previously,a row 2301 corresponding to the cassette 353 storing paper of cardboard3 may be shaded on the sheet selection screen 2201 so as to inhibit auser from selecting it. Because double-sided printing is not allowed toperform on cardboard 4 either, the CPU 402 may shade a row correspondingto the deck 354 storing paper of cardboard 4 on the screen illustratedin FIGS. 14A to 14C so as to inhibit a user from selecting it.

FIGS. 11A to 11F are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of ascreen transition of a binding setting screen to be displayed on thedisplay unit 505 in a case where a user defines a setting fordischarging a leftward book bound product to the stacking tray 328.

A portal screen 1601 is a screen to be displayed on the display unit 505for setting binding. On the portal screen 1601, a “NO FOLD” key 1702 ishighlighted, which indicates that a book bound product is to bedischarged to the stacking tray 328.

If the CPU 402 detects on the portal screen 1601 that a “COVER” key 1703has been pressed, a setting screen 1602 is displayed for setting a printposition on a cover sheet.

If the CPU 402 detects on the setting screen 1602 that the “CHANGE” key1704 has been pressed, a sheet selection screen 1603 is displayed. Onthe sheet selection screen 1603, a row 1705 corresponding to the deck354 storing paper having a size of A3 and a name of “cardboard 4 (257 to300 g/m2)” is highlighted to indicate that it is selected as paper to beused for a cover sheet to be attached to a book bound product.

If the CPU 402 detects on the sheet selection screen 1603 that the “OK”key 1706 has been pressed, a setting screen 1604 is displayed forsetting a print position on a cover sheet. Here, “PRINT” keys 1707 and1708 highlighted as on the setting screen 1604 indicate that printing isto be performed on the inner side of a cover sheet of “cardboard 4 (257to 300 g/m2)”. However, because double-sided printing and inversingcannot be executed on cardboard 4 as in the paper management tableillustrated in FIG. 7, a cover sheet having an image printed on itsinner side may not be added to the body.

If the CPU 402 detects on the setting screen 1604 that the “OK” key 1709has been pressed, a binding portal screen 1605 is displayed, and a“COVER” key 1710 is highlighted, which indicates that the setting forattaching a cover sheet to a book bound product has completed. The CPU402 holds the settings received through the screens illustrated in FIGS.11A to 11F in the DRAM 406.

If the start key 506 is pressed with the portal screen 1605 displayed,the CPU 402 provides a display warning 1606 that binding using cardboard4 as a cover sheet is not allowed to be set based on the settings storedin the DRAM 406 and the paper management table illustrated in FIG. 7.

On the portal screen 1605, if the CPU 402 detects that “OK” key 1711 hasbeen pressed, it may be controlled so as to provide the display warning1606 based on the settings stored in the DRAM 406 and the papermanagement table illustrated in FIG. 7.

In a case where, as illustrated in FIGS. 15A to 15C, the setting forperforming printing on the inner side of a cover sheet is definedpreviously, the CPU 402 may control so as to shade a row 2501corresponding to the deck 354 storing paper of cardboard 4 on the sheetselection screen 2401 to inhibit a user from selecting it. Becausecardboard 3 can be inversed, the CPU 402 may display, on the screensillustrated in FIGS. 15A to 15C, the row corresponding to the cassette353 storing paper of cardboard 3 as being selectable by a user.

Next, image layouts and printing results in a case where a bindinglayout process is executed and the printing result is discharged to thestacking tray 328 and in a case where a saddle stitch bookbindingprocess is executed and the printing result is discharged to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331 will be described more specificallywith reference to FIGS. 16A and 16B to FIGS. 19A and 19B.

FIG. 16A is a diagram for explaining how pages of images of a documentare to be laid out in a case where a binding layout process whichattaches a cover sheet not requiring printing to a leftward book boundproduct is executed and the resulting book bound product is dischargedto the stacking tray 328. For the discharge to the stacking tray 328,the images 3231 of pages of a document may be laid out to images 3232,for example, and be held in the DRAM 406. When the layout processingcompletes, printing is performed in order from the image of the sheetcorresponding to the innermost page of the book bound product to theimage of the sheet corresponding to the outermost page of the book boundproduct. In order to acquire the layout of the images 3232, the CPU 402prints in order of the front side of the first sheet (body), the backside of the first sheet (body), the front side of the second sheet(body), the back side of the second sheet (body), the front side of thethird sheet (body), and the back side of the third sheet (body). The CPU402 feeds the fourth sheet (cover sheet) at last. The conveyance rollers31 to 35 are caused to discharge the printed sheets to the stacking tray328. FIG. 16A illustrates the discharged printing result.

FIG. 16B is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a binding layout process which attaches acover sheet having undergone double-sided printing to a leftward bookbound product is executed and the resulting book bound product isdischarged to the stacking tray 328. For the discharge to the stackingtray 328, images 3241 of pages of a document may be laid out to images3242, for example, and be held in the DRAM 406. When the layoutprocessing completes, printing is performed in order from the image ofthe sheet corresponding to the innermost page of the book bound productto the image of the sheet corresponding to the cover sheet of the bookbound product. In order to acquire the layout of the images 3242, theCPU 402 controls the printing in the following order. That is, the CPU402 controls so as to print in order of the front side of the firstsheet (body), the back side of the first sheet (body), the front side ofthe second sheet (body), the back side of the second sheet (body), thefront side of the third sheet (body), the back side of the third sheet(body), the front side of the fourth sheet (cover sheet), and the backside of the fourth sheet (cover sheet). The conveyance rollers 31 to 35are caused to discharge the printed sheets to the stacking tray 328.FIG. 16B illustrates the discharged printing result.

FIG. 17A is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a binding layout process which attaches acover sheet having an inner side printed to a leftward book boundproduct is executed and the resulting book bound product is dischargedto the stacking tray 328. For the discharge to the stacking tray 328,the images 3251 of pages of a document may be laid out to images 3252,for example, and be held in the DRAM 406. When the layout processingcompletes, printing is performed in order from the image of the sheetcorresponding to the innermost page of the book bound product to theimage of the sheet corresponding to the cover sheet of the book boundproduct. In order to acquire the layout of the images 3252, the CPU 402controls so as to print in the following order. That is, the CPU 402controls so as to print in order of the front side of the first sheet(body), the back side of the first sheet (body), the front side of thesecond sheet (body), the back side of the second sheet (body), the frontside of the third sheet (body), and the back side of the third sheet(body). The CPU 402 prints the fourth sheet (cover sheet) at last. Here,in a case where a sheet on which double-sided printing is not executablesuch as cardboard 3 in the paper management table in FIG. 7 is used asthe cover sheet of the book bound product, the sheet is switched backthrough a conveying path under the flapper 326 illustrated in FIG. 1.Thus, the sheet is reversed and discharged to the sheet discharge port325 with its printed side facing down. The conveyance rollers 31 to 35are caused to discharge the printed sheets to the stacking tray 328.FIG. 17A illustrates the discharged printing result. In other words,discharging a sheet on which double-sided printing is not executablelike cardboard 3 in the paper management table in FIG. 7 to the stackingtray 328 allows printing to be performed on the back side of the coversheet and the front side of the back cover.

FIG. 17B is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a binding layout process which attaches acover sheet having an outer side printed to a leftward book boundproduct is executed and the resulting book bound product is dischargedto the stacking tray 328. For the discharge to the stacking tray 328,the images 3261 of pages of a document may be laid out to images 3262,for example, and be held in the DRAM 406. When the layout processingcompletes, printing is performed in order from the image of the sheetcorresponding to the innermost page of the book bound product to theimage of the sheet corresponding to the cover sheet of the book boundproduct. In order to acquire the layout of the images 3262, the CPU 402controls so as to print in the following order. That is, the CPU 402prints in order of the front side of the first sheet (body), the backside of the first sheet (body), the front side of the second sheet(body), the back side of the second sheet (body), the front side of thethird sheet (body), and the back side of the third sheet (body). The CPU402 then controls so as to print the fourth sheet (cover sheet) at last.Here, in a case where a sheet on which double-sided printing is notexecutable such as cardboard 3 and cardboard 4 in the paper managementtable in FIG. 7 is used as the cover sheet of the book bound product,the sheet is discharged through a conveying path above the flapper 326illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, the sheet is discharged to the sheetdischarge port 325 with its printed side facing up. The conveyancerollers 31 to 35 are caused to discharge the printed sheets to thestacking tray 328. FIG. 17B illustrates the discharged printing result.In other words, discharging a sheet on which double-sided printing isnot executable like cardboard 3 and cardboard 4 in the paper managementtable in FIG. 7 to the stacking tray 328 allows printing to be performedon the front side of the cover sheet and the back side of the backcover.

FIG. 18A is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a saddle stitch bookbinding process whichattaches a cover sheet not requiring printing to a leftward book boundproduct is executed and the resulting book bound product is dischargedto the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. For the discharge to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331, the images 3271 of pages of adocument may be laid out to images 3272, for example, and be held in theDRAM 406. When the layout processing completes, printing is performed inorder from the image of the sheet corresponding to the innermost page ofthe book bound product to the image of the sheet corresponding to theoutermost page of the book bound product. In order to acquire the layoutof the images 3272, the CPU 402 controls so as to print in the followingorder. That is, the printing is executed in the order of the front sideof the first sheet (body), the back side of the first sheet (body), thefront side of the second sheet (body), the back side of the second sheet(body), the front side of the third sheet (body), and the back side ofthe third sheet (body). The CPU 402 feeds the fourth sheet (cover sheet)at last. After the printed sheets are conveyed by the conveyance rollers31, 37, and 38 until the rear end of the sheets reach a rear end sensor48, the sheets are switched back by the reverse rotations of theconveyance rollers 37 and 38 and are sequentially stored within theconveying path 41. A binding process and then a folding process areexecuted on the sheets, and the resulting sheets are discharged to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. FIG. 18A illustrates the dischargedprinting result.

FIG. 18B is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a saddle stitch bookbinding process whichattaches a cover sheet having undergone double-sided printing to aleftward book bound product is executed and the resulting book boundproduct is discharged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. For thedischarge to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331, images 3281 ofpages of a document may be laid out to images 3282, for example, and beheld in the DRAM 406. When the layout processing completes, printing isperformed in order from the image of the sheet corresponding to theinnermost page of the book bound product to the image of the sheetcorresponding to the cover sheet of the book bound product. In order toacquire the layout of the images 3282, the CPU 402 controls the printingin the following order. That is, the CPU 402 controls so as to print inthe order of the front side of the first sheet (body), the back side ofthe first sheet (body), the front side of the second sheet (body), theback side of the second sheet (body), the front side of the third sheet(body), the back side of the third sheet (body), the front side of thefourth sheet (cover sheet), and the back side of the fourth sheet (coversheet). After the printed sheets are conveyed by the conveyance rollers31, 37 and 38 until the rear end of the sheets reach the rear end sensor48, the sheets are switched back by the reverse rotations of theconveyance rollers 37 and 38 and are sequentially stored within theconveying path 41. A binding process and then a folding process areexecuted on the sheets, and the resulting sheets are discharged to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. FIG. 18B illustrates the dischargedprinting result.

FIG. 19A is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a saddle stitch bookbinding process whichattaches a cover sheet having an inner side printed to a leftward bookbound product is executed and the resulting book bound product isdischarged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. For the dischargeto the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331, the images 3291 of pages of adocument may be laid out to images 3292, for example, and be held in theDRAM 406. When the layout processing completes, printing is performed inorder from the image of the sheet corresponding to the innermost page ofthe book bound product to the image of the sheet corresponding to thecover sheet of the book bound product. With the layout of the images3292, the CPU 402 prints in the order of the front side of the firstsheet (body), the back side of the first sheet (body), the front side ofthe second sheet (body), the back side of the second sheet (body), thefront side of the third sheet (body), and the back side of the thirdsheet (body). The CPU 402 prints the fourth sheet (cover sheet) at last.Here, in a case where a sheet on which double-sided printing is notexecutable such as cardboard 3 and cardboard 4 in the paper managementtable in FIG. 7 is used as the cover sheet of the book bound product,the sheet is discharged with its printed side facing up through theconveying path above the flapper 326 illustrated in FIG. 1. After theprinted sheets are conveyed by the conveyance rollers 31, 37, and 38until the rear end of the sheets reach the rear end sensor 48, thesheets are switched back by the reverse rotations of the conveyancerollers 37 and 38 and are sequentially stored within the conveying path41. A binding process and then a folding process are executed on thesheets, and the resulting sheets are discharged to the saddle-stitchbookbinding tray 331. FIG. 19A illustrates the discharged printingresult. In other words, discharging a sheet on which double-sidedprinting is not executable like cardboard 3 and cardboard 4 in the papermanagement table in FIG. 7 to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331allows printing to be performed on the back side of the cover sheet andthe front side of the back cover.

FIG. 19B is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a saddle stitch bookbinding process whichattaches a cover sheet having an outer side printed to a leftward bookbound product is executed and the resulting book bound product isdischarged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. For the dischargeto the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331, the image 3301 of pages of adocument may be laid out to images 3302, for example, and be held in theDRAM 406. When the layout processing completes, printing is performed inorder from the image of the sheet corresponding to the innermost page ofthe book bound product to the image of the sheet corresponding to thecover sheet of the book bound product. In order to acquire the layout ofthe images 3302, the CPU 402 prints in the order of the front side ofthe first sheet (body), the back side of the first sheet (body), thefront side of the second sheet (body), the back side of the second sheet(body), the front side of the third sheet (body), and the back side ofthe third sheet (body). The CPU 402 then controls so as to print thefourth sheet (cover sheet) at last. Here, in a case where a sheet onwhich double-sided printing is not executable such as cardboard 3 in thepaper management table in FIG. 7 is used as the cover sheet of the bookbound product, the sheet is switched back through a conveying path underthe flapper 326 illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, the sheet is reversed anddischarged to the sheet discharge port 325 with its printed side facingdown. After the printed sheets are conveyed by the conveyance rollers31, 37, and 38 until the rear end of the sheets reach a rear end sensor48, the sheets are switched back by the reverse rotations of theconveyance rollers 37 and 38 and are sequentially stored within theconveying path 41. A binding process and then a folding process areexecuted on the sheets, and the resulting sheets are discharged to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. FIG. 19B illustrates the dischargedprinting result. In other words, discharging a sheet on whichdouble-sided printing is not executable like cardboard 3 in the papermanagement table in FIG. 7 to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331allows printing to be performed on the front side of the cover sheet andthe back side of the back cover.

In a case where a cover sheet having an inner side printed is attachedto a leftward book bound product, the processing for acquiring the bookbound product discharged to the stacking tray 328 and the processing foracquiring the book bound product discharged to the saddle-stitchbookbinding tray 331 only differ in the presence/absence of the bindingprocess and the folding process, as illustrated in FIG. 17A and FIG.19A. In a case where a cover sheet having an outer side printed isattached to a leftward book bound product, the processing for acquiringthe book bound product discharged to the stacking tray 328 and theprocessing for acquiring the book bound product discharged to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331 only differ in the presence/absenceof the binding process and the folding process, as illustrated in FIG.17B and FIG. 19B.

Next, a control procedure to be performed by the CPU 402 according tothe first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 20A to22B. The CPU 402 reads out and executes a program stored in the ROM 404to execute steps in the flowcharts in FIGS. 20A to 22B.

First, in response to a job execution request through the start key 506,the CPU 402 starts processing in the flowchart in FIGS. 20A and 20B. Forexample, in response to a copy job execution request for printing imagesof a document read by a scanner unit in the printer unit, the CPU 402performs the processing in the flowchart scanner 301 after all images ofthe document are read. In response to a print job execution request forprinting, in the printer unit, images received from an external PC, theCPU 402 performs the processing in the flowchart after all images arereceived from the PC.

First, in S5001 (where S stands for step), the CPU 402 determineswhether a binding process is designated or not. If it is determined thata binding process is designated, the CPU 402 advances the processing toS5003. If not, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S5002. Note that,before S5001, the CPU 402 may determine whether the sheet processingapparatus 315 in connection with the image formation apparatus. In thiscase, if it is determined that the sheet processing apparatus 315 is inconnection with the image formation apparatus, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S5001. If it is determined that the sheet processingapparatus 315 is not in connection with the image formation apparatus,the CPU 402 may advance the processing to S5002.

In S5002, the CPU 402 executes normal print processing based on settingsreceived from a user. Then, the processing ends. For example, printingis performed by the image formation apparatus, and the resulting sheetsare discharged without executing post-processing by the sheet processingapparatus 315.

On the other hand, when processing moves from S5001 to S5003, the CPU402 determines whether double-sided printing is executable on the sheetsdesignated to use for the body of a book bound product or not. If it isdetermined that double-sided printing is not executable on the sheetsdesignated to use for the body of the book bound product, the CPU 402advances the processing to S5004. On the other hand, if it is determinedthat double-sided printing is executable on the sheets designated to usefor the body of the book bound product, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S5005.

In S5004, the CPU 402 performs processing for forcibly aborting the job.Then, an error message illustrated in FIG. 23 is displayed on thedisplay unit 505. Then, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S5005, the CPU 402 determines whether a bindinglayout process with no folding is designated or not is determined.

As described above, the following three forms of binding are available.That is,

Form 1: FOLD+SADDLE STITCH (saddle stitch book binding process)Form 2: FOLD ONLY (center-folding and binding process)Form 3: NO FOLD (binding layout process)The binding layout process with no folding corresponds to Form 3 and maybe designated by using a “NO FOLD” key on the portal screen. On theother hand, FORM 1 and FORM 2 correspond to binding layout processesincluding folding. FORM 1 may be designated by using the “FOLD+SADDLESTITCH” key. FORM 2 may be designated by using “FOLD ONLY” key.

If it is determined that a binding layout process with no folding isdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S5006. On the otherhand, if it is determined that a binding layout process includingfolding is designated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S5007.

In S5006, the CPU 402 determines whether cover sheet printing isdesignated or not. If it is determined that cover sheet printing isdesignated, the CPU 402 moves the processing to S5009. If not, the CPU402 advances the processing to S5008.

In S5008, the CPU 402 executes booklet print processing illustrated inFIGS. 21A and 21B which discharges sheets to the stacking tray. Then,the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S5009, the CPU 402 determines whether double-sidedprinting is designated for the cover sheet or not. If it is determinedthat double-sided printing designated for the cover sheet, the CPU 402advances the processing to S5010. If not, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S5011.

In S5010, the CPU 402 determines whether double-sided printing isexecutable on the cover sheet to be attached to the book bound productor not based on the paper type designated to use for the cover sheet andthe paper management table illustrated in FIG. 7. If it is determinedthat double-sided printing is not executable on the sheet, the CPU 402advances the processing to S5012. If it is determined that double-sidedprinting is executable on the sheet, the CPU 402 advances the processingto S5008.

In S5012, the CPU 402 performs processing for forcibly aborting the job.Then, an error message illustrated in FIG. 24 is displayed on thedisplay unit 505. Then, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S5011 after S5009, the CPU 402 determines whetherprinting on the inner side of the cover sheet is designated or not. Ifit is determined that printing on the inner side of the cover sheet isdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S5013. If it isdetermined printing on the inner side of the cover sheet is notdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S5014.

In S5014, the CPU 402 executes booklet print processing illustrated inFIGS. 21A and 21B which discharges sheets to the stacking tray. Then,the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S5013, the CPU 402 determines whether the sheetfor the cover sheet to be attached to the book bound product can beinverted and be discharged or not. If not, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S5012. If so, the CPU 402 advances the processing toS5014.

On the other hand, in S5007, the CPU 402 determines whether printing onthe cover sheet is designated or not. If so, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S5016. If not, the CPU 402 advances the processing toS5015.

In S5015, the CPU 402 executes booklet printing processing illustratedin FIGS. 22A and 22B which discharges sheets to the binding processingtray. Then, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S5016, the CPU 402 determines whether double-sidedprinting is designated for the cover sheet or not. If it is determinedthat double-sided printing designated for the cover sheet, the CPU 402advances the processing to S5017. If not, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S5018.

In S5017, the CPU 402 determines whether double-sided printing isexecutable on the cover sheet to be attached to the book bound productor not. If it is determined that double-sided printing is not executableon the sheet, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S5019. If it isdetermined that double-sided printing is executable on the sheet, theCPU 402 advances the processing to S5015.

In S5019, the CPU 402 performs processing for forcibly aborting the job.Then, an error message illustrated in FIG. 24 is displayed on thedisplay unit 505. Then, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S5018, the CPU 402 determines whether printing onthe outer side of the cover sheet is designated or not. If it isdetermined that printing on the outer side of the cover sheet isdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S5020. If it isdetermined that printing on the outer side of the cover sheet is notdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S5021.

In S5021, the CPU 402 executes booklet printing processing illustratedin FIGS. 22A and 22B which discharges sheets to the binding processingtray. Then, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S5020, the CPU 402 determines whether the sheetfor the cover sheet to be attached to the book bound product can beinverted and ne discharged or not. If not, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S5019. If so, the CPU 402 advances the processing toS5021.

FIGS. 21A and 21B illustrate a flowchart describing the booklet printingprocessing procedure in S5008 and S5014 in FIG. 20A which dischargessheets to a stacking tray.

First, in S6001, the CPU 402 determines whether printing on the coversheet is designated or not. If so, the CPU 402 advances the processingto S6003. If not, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S6002.

In S6002, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method as illustrated inFIG. 16A and advances the processing to S6004.

In S6004, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S6005.

In S6005, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the body to the stacking tray 328 without executing abinding process and a folding process and advances the processing toS6006.

In S6006, the CPU 402 determines whether attachment of a cover sheet isdesignated or not. If it is determined that cover sheet is designated toattach, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S6007. If not, theprocessing ends.

In S6007, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet to the stacking tray 328 withoutexecuting a binding process and a folding process. Then, the processingends.

On the other hand, in S6003 after S6002, the CPU 402 determines whetherprinting on both sides of the cover sheet is designated or not. If it isdetermined that printing on both sides of the cover sheet is designated,the CPU 402 advances the processing to S6008. If not, the CPU 402advances the processing to S6009.

In S6008, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method as illustrated inFIG. 16B and advances the processing to S6010.

In S6010, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S6011.

In S6011, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the body to the stacking tray 328 without executing abinding process and a folding process.

In S6012, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet and advances the processing to S6013.

In S6013, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet to the stacking tray 328 withoutexecuting a binding process and a folding process. Then, the processingends.

On the other hand, in S6009 after S6003, the CPU 402 determines whetherprinting on the inner side of the cover sheet is designated or not. Ifit is determined that printing on the inner side of the cover sheet isdesignated, the 402 advances the processing to S6014. If not, the CPU402 advances the processing to S6015.

In S6014, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method as illustrated inFIG. 17A, and advances the processing to S6016.

In S6016, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S6017.

In S6017, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the body to the stacking tray 328 without executing abinding process and a folding process.

In S6018, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet and advances the processing to S6019.

In S6019, the CPU 402 switches back the sheet corresponding to the coversheet through the conveying path under the flapper 326 illustrated inFIG. 1 so that the sheet may be inverted and be discharged to the sheetdischarge port 325 with its printed side facing down and advances theprocessing to S6020.

In S6020, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet to the stacking tray 328 withoutexecuting a binding process and a folding process. Then, the processingends.

On the other hand, in S6015, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method asillustrated in FIG. 17B and advances the processing to S6021.

In S6021, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S6022.

In S6022, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the body to the stacking tray 328 without executing abinding process and a folding process.

In S6023, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet and advances the processing to S6024.

In S6024, the CPU 402 discharges the sheet corresponding to the coversheet through the conveying path above the flapper 326 illustrated inFIG. 1 so that the sheet may be discharged to the sheet discharge port325 with its printed side facing up and discharges it to the stackingtray 328. Then, the processing ends.

FIGS. 22A and 22B illustrate a flowchart describing the booklet printingprocessing procedure in S5015 and S5021 in FIG. 20B which dischargessheets to a binding processing tray.

First, in S7001, the CPU 402 determines whether a saddle stitch processis designated or not. If it is determined that a saddle stitch processis designated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S7002. If not, theCPU 402 advances the processing to S7005.

In S7002, the CPU 402 calculates the number of output sheets for onecopy of the resulting book bound product and advances the processing toS7003. In a case where images of two pages are laid out in one page asillustrated in FIG. 18A, the number of output sheets per copy may becalculated by an expression that (the total number of pages+3)/4.

In S7003, the CPU 402 determines whether the number of output sheets percopy is higher than the number of sheets which can undergo saddle stitchprocessing to be performed by the sheet processing apparatus 315. Thenumber of sheets which can undergo saddle stitch processing to beperformed by the sheet processing apparatus 315 is stored in the ROM 404as capability information of the sheet processing apparatus 315. If itis higher than the number of sheets which can undergo saddle stitchprocessing, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S7004. If not, theCPU 402 advances the processing to S7005.

In S7004, the CPU 402 performs processing for forcibly aborting the job.Then, an error pop-up message illustrated in FIG. 25 is displayed on thedisplay unit 505. Then, the processing ends. The example has beendescribed above that if it is determined in S7003 that the number ofoutput sheets per copy is higher than the number of sheets which canundergo saddle stitch processing, the CPU 402 advances the processing toS7004 and that an error pop-up message illustrated in FIG. 25 is thendisplayed on the display unit 505. However, the present invention is notlimited thereto. If it is determined in S7003 that the number of outputsheets per copy is higher than the number of sheets which can undergosaddle stitch processing, the CPU 402 may advance the processing toS6001 in FIG. 21A and may execute the booklet printing processingprocedure which discharges the sheets to the stacking tray.

On the other hand, in S7005, the CPU 402 determines whether printing onthe cover sheet is designated or not. If so, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S7007. If not, the CPU 402 advances the processing toS7006.

In S7006, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method as illustrated inFIG. 18A and advances the processing to S7008.

In S7008, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S7009.

In S7009, the CPU 402 controls so as to switch back the sheetscorresponding to the body through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 andthen store them within the conveying path 41.

In S7010, the CPU 402 determines whether attachment of a cover sheet isdesignated or not. If it is determined that cover sheet is designated toattach, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S7011. If not, theprocessing ends.

In S7011, the CPU 402 switches back the sheet corresponding to the coversheet through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 and then stores it withinthe conveying path 41. The CPU 402 controls so as to executesaddle-stitch process and then a folding process and discharge the bookbound product to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. Then, theprocessing ends.

On the other hand, in S7007, the CPU 402 determines whether printing onboth sides of the cover sheet is designated or not. If it is determinedthat printing on both sides of the cover sheet is designated, the CPU402 advances the processing to S7012. If not, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S7013.

In S7012, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method as illustrated inFIG. 18B and advances the processing to S7014.

In S7014, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S7015.

In S7015, the CPU 402 controls so as to switch back the sheetscorresponding to the body through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 andthen store them within the conveying path 41.

In S7016, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet and advances the processing to S7017.

In S7017, the CPU 402 switches back the sheet corresponding to the coversheet through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 and then stores it withinthe conveying path 41. The CPU 402 controls so as to executesaddle-stitch process and then a folding process and discharge the bookbound product to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. Then, theprocessing ends.

On the other hand, in S7013, the CPU 402 determines whether printing onthe inner side of the cover sheet is designated or not. If it isdetermined that printing on the inner side of the cover sheet isdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S7018. If it isdetermined printing on the inner side of the cover sheet is notdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S7019.

In S7018, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method as illustrated inFIG. 19A, and advances the processing to S7020.

In S7020, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S7021.

In S7021, the CPU 402 controls so as to switch back the sheetscorresponding to the body through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 andthen store them within the conveying path 41.

In S7022, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet and advances the processing to S7023.

In S7023, the CPU 402 switches back the sheet corresponding to the coversheet through the conveying path above the flapper 326 illustrated inFIG. 1 so that the sheet may be discharged to the sheet discharge port325 with its printed side facing up. After that, the CPU 402 switchesback the sheet corresponding to the cover sheet through the conveyancerollers 37 and 38 and then stores it within the conveying path 41. TheCPU 402 controls so as to execute saddle-stitch process and then afolding process and discharge the book bound product to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. Then, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S7019, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method asillustrated in FIG. 19B and advances the processing to S7024.

In S7024, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S7025.

In S7025, the CPU 402 controls so as to switch back the sheetscorresponding to the body through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 andthen store them within the conveying path 41.

In S7026, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet and advances the processing to S7027.

In S7027, the CPU 402 switches back the sheet corresponding to the coversheet through the conveying path under the flapper 326 illustrated inFIG. 1 so that the sheet may be inverted and be discharged to the sheetdischarge port 325 with its printed side facing down and advances theprocessing to S7028.

In S7028, the CPU 402 switches back the sheet corresponding to the coversheet through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 and then stores it withinthe conveying path 41. The CPU 402 controls so as to perform a bindingprocess and a folding process and discharge the saddle-stitchbookbinding tray 331. The processing ends then.

As described above, in a case where a sheet on which double-sidedprinting is unexecutable is used as a cover sheet of a book boundproduct, the sheet is discharged to a sheet processing apparatus havinga switch-back mechanism so that its printed side may face down. Thus, abook bound product with a cover sheet having an image printed on itsouter side may be acquired in the binding processing tray.

In a case where a sheet which cannot be inverted and be discharged isdischarged to the binding processing tray as a cover sheet of a bookbound product, it may be controlled so as to inhibit printing on theouter side of the cover sheet. This may prevent a problem that aconsumable product such as a sheet and a toner is consumed wastefullydue to improper printing of an image on an inner side of the coversheet.

Second Embodiment

An example of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention will be described next. A sheet processingapparatus according to the second embodiment has the same configurationas that in FIGS. 2A to 2E, and a controller included in an imageformation apparatus also has the same hardware configuration as that inFIG. 3. The operating unit 501 has the same configuration as theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 4. The procedure to be performed by auser for designating paper to be used in a book bound product is thesame as the procedure with the screen transition illustrated in FIGS. 5Ato 5F. The procedure for instructing to attach a cover sheet to a bookbound product having undergone a saddle stitch bookbinding process, acenter-folding and binding process or binding layout process is the sameas the procedure with the screen transition illustrated in FIGS. 6A to6E.

FIG. 26 illustrates a configuration of a print system including an imageformation apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus, which is anexample of a printing apparatus according to the second embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 26, a substantially half of the image formationapparatus has a U shape in front view, and a relay unit 56 which is asheet conveyer is provided within a space enclosed by the U-shape. Therelay unit 56 internally includes a conveying path 54. The imageformation apparatus is connected to the sheet processing apparatus 315through the conveying path 54 within the relay unit 56 and is capable ofconveying sheets to the sheet processing apparatus 315. Because thesheet processing apparatus 315 has the same configuration as in thefirst embodiment, common numbers refer to parts which are substantiallycommon to those in the first embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 26 and, anddetail description will be omitted.

The image formation apparatus is of what is called a tandem type inwhich four photoconductive drums 6 being image bearing members forbearing toner images of respective colors Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, andBlack are aligned in a direction of travel of an intermediate transferbelt 7 being an intermediate transfer unit. This image formationapparatus as described above includes a scanner 301, an ADF 302, and aprint engine 355. Because the scanner 301 has the same configuration asthat in the first embodiment, common numbers refer to parts which aresubstantially common to those in the first embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 26and, and detail description will be omitted.

Print operations to be performed by the printer 355 will be described.

The printer 355 includes process cartridges 3 for colors, an exposureunit 2 which irradiates laser beams to the photoconductive drums 6, theintermediate transfer belt 7, a primary transfer roller 5 as a primarytransfer unit, a secondary transfer roller 8 as a secondary transferunit, and a fixing unit 55. Each of the process cartridges 3 has thephotoconductive drum 6 and a charger, a developing device and a cleaner,not illustrated, arranged around the photoconductive drum 6. Theintermediate transfer belt 7 is stretched by a plurality of stretchrollers and placed adjacently to the process cartridges 3 and in contactwith the photoconductive drums 6. The intermediate transfer belt 7travels in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 26 with thedrive to rotate of one roller (driving roller) of the plurality ofstretch rollers connected to a motor, not illustrated. The primarytransfer roller 5 is placed at a position where it faces thephotoconductive drums 6 across the intermediate transfer belt 7. In thedirection of travel of the intermediate transfer belt 7, the secondarytransfer roller 8 is provided in contact with the intermediate transferbelt 7 in a downstream of the process cartridges 3, and the secondarytransfer roller 8 and the intermediate transfer belt 7 constitute asecondary transfer unit T2. The exposure unit 2 is provided on theopposite side of the intermediate transfer belt 7 across the processcartridges 3 and is configured to irradiate laser beams to thephotoconductive drums 6 based on information read by the scanner 301 orexternally received information. According to this embodiment, tonerbottles 12 is provided for supplying toners of respective colors todeveloping devices in the respective process cartridges 3. The fixingunit 55 is provided in a downstream of the secondary transfer unit T2and is configured to heat and press a printing material bearing a tonerimage to fix the toner image to the printing material. The printer 355has a plurality of cassettes 356 each storing sheets and is configuredto pick up a sheet from one of the cassettes 356, convey the sheet tothe secondary transfer unit T2 and fixing unit 55 and output the sheethaving undergone the fixing process to the relay unit 56. The printer355 has a reverse conveying mechanism which inverts and conveys a sheeton which double-sided printing is to be performed.

The image formation apparatus configured as described above may performan image formation process as follows.

First, surfaces of the photoconductive drums 6 for respective colors areelectrostatically charged by a charger and are exposed by the exposureunit 2 to form latent images on the photoconductive drums 6. Each of thelatent images is developed by the developing device so that a tonerimage is formed on the photoconductive drum 6. The toner images formedon the photoconductive drums 6 come to a primary transfer unit T1 incontact with the photoconductive drums 6 and the intermediate transferbelt 7. In the primary transfer unit T1, a primary transfer bias isapplied to the primary transfer rollers 5 so that the toner images onthe photoconductive drums 6 are sequentially transferred to theintermediate transfer belt 7. Thus, a full-color toner image is formedon the intermediate transfer belt 7. The toner image is conveyed to thesecondary transfer unit T2 when the intermediate transfer belt 7travels.

On the other hand, a sheet supplied from one of the cassettes 356 isconveyed to the secondary transfer unit T2. In other words, sheets arefed one by one by a pickup roller 10 from one of the cassettes 356 andare conveyed to the secondary transfer unit T2 by timing to the tonerimage on the intermediate transfer belt 7 with a registration roller 9.In the secondary transfer unit T2, a secondary transfer bias is appliedto the secondary transfer roller 8 so that the toner image on theintermediate transfer belt 7 can be secondary transferred to a sheet.After that, the sheet to which the toner image has been transferred isconveyed to the fixing unit 55 and is heated and pressed so that thetoners may melt and mix and the toner image is fixed to the sheet as aprint image. The sheet on which the image is fixed is discharged to therelay unit 56 with its printed side facing down through a dischargeroller 18 provided in a downstream of the fixing unit 55. The sheetdischarged to the relay unit 56 is discharged by a rotating conveyanceroller pair 58 to the sheet discharge port 59 to the sheet processingapparatus 315.

Next, in order to perform double-sided printing, a sheet havingundergone the fixing process is discharged to the relay unit 56 with itsprinted side facing down and is switched back and is conveyed by aninternal structure of the relay unit 56. Then, an reverse conveyanceroller 17 conveys the sheet to a conveying path 57 for double-sidedprinting and is supplied to the secondary transfer unit T2 again. Animage is transferred to the sheet in the secondary transfer unit T2, andthe sheet to which the image has been transferred is discharged to therelay unit 56 by the discharge roller 18 through the fixing unit 55.After that, the sheet discharged to the relay unit 56 is discharged tothe sheet discharge port 59 to the sheet processing apparatus 315 by therotating conveyance roller pair 58.

Various settings may be defined as illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 6E.However, due to the structure of the sheet processing apparatus 315illustrated in FIG. 26, a book bound product which satisfies thesettings may not be output.

More specifically, the sheet processing apparatus 315 switches back bothof the body and the cover sheet of a book bound product and stores thesheets with a stopper within the conveying path 41.

The sheet to be used as a cover sheet undergoes image printing after theprinting on the body and then is added to the body. In a case where thesheet to be used as the cover sheet is a sheet allowing double-sidedprinting through the conveying path 57 for double-sided printing, theimage formation apparatus is allowed to print an image on a desiredsurface as in the body.

On the other hand, in a case where a sheet to be used as the cover sheetdoes not allow double-sided printing through the conveying path 330 fordouble-sided printing, the surface on which an image has been formedlastly of the sheet comes to the outer side of the book bound product.In other words, such a sheet allows an image to be printed only on theouter side of the book bound product. It is desirable if a user intendsto print an image on the outer side of the cover sheet of the book boundproduct. However, the book bound product acquired in that case isdifferent from the book bound product intended by the user in a casewhere the user intends to print an image on the inner side of the coversheet of the book bound product. Some types of paper cannot pass throughthe conveying path 57 for double-sided printing, and there is alimitation that an image is not allowed to be printed on both of thefront side and back side of the sheet.

In consideration of such limitations and based on the set type of paperfor a cover sheet and the set side of the sheet for printing an image,the image formation apparatus according to this embodiment performs thefollowing control. More specifically, the image formation apparatusdisplays a warning in a case where an unexecutable setting is definedwhile the image formation apparatus generates a book bound product basedon defined settings if the settings are executable.

A procedure for controlling such that printing is inhibited fromstarting with unexecutable settings based on a paper management tableillustrated in FIG. 27 will be described with reference to screensillustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8F and FIGS. 10A to 10F, FIGS. 12A to 12C andFIGS. 14A to 14C. The paper management table in FIG. 27 is stored in HD440.

The paper management table defines each paper type with respect towhether it allows double-sided printing performed by the printer 355 ornot or whether it is usable as a cover sheet to be attached to a bookbound product. The paper management table manages a plurality of papertypes usable for printing including plain paper, cardboard 1, cardboard2, cardboard 3, and cardboard 4. These paper types have different basisweights on which whether it is double-side printable or not and whetherit is usable as a cover sheet are dependent. Therefore, the papermanagement table manages each of the paper types with respect to whetherit is double-side printable or not and whether it is usable as a coversheet. It should be noted that the paper types to be managed are notlimited to those paper types above and that other paper types such asrecycled paper and coated paper. A paper type may be registered by auser through the operating unit 501. In a case where a paper type isregistered, the CPU 402 may prompt to further register the basis weight,whether it is double-side printable or not and whether it is usable as acover sheet.

As illustrated in FIG. 27, sheets corresponding to plain paper,cardboard 1, and cardboard 2 are all double-side printable, arereversible to discharge, and are usable as a cover sheet to be attachedto a book bound product. On the other hand, sheets corresponding tocardboard 3 and cardboard 4 do not allow printing images on their bothsides. Therefore, control may be required so as to inhibit printingimages on both size of a cover sheet to be attached to a book boundproduct. For sheets corresponding to cardboard 3 and cardboard 4,control may be required so as to inhibit printing an image on an outerside of a cover sheet to be attached to a book bound product todischarge it to the stacking tray 328. For sheets corresponding tocardboard 3 and cardboard 4, control may be required so as to inhibitprinting an image on an inner side of a cover sheet to be attached to abook bound product to discharge it to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray331.

FIGS. 8A to 8F are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of ascreen transition of a binding setting screen displayed on the displayunit 505 in a case where a user defines settings for discharging aleftward book bound product to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331.

A portal screen 1801 is a binding portal screen to be displayed on thedisplay unit 505. On the portal screen 1801, a “FOLD+SADDLE STITCH” key1902 is highlighted which indicates that a book bound product is to bedischarged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331.

If the CPU 402 detects on the portal screen 1801 that a “COVER” key 1903has been pressed, a setting screen 1802 is displayed on which a printposition of a cover sheet is set.

If the CPU 402 detects on the setting screen 1802 that a “CHANGE” key1904 has been pressed, a sheet selection screen 1803 is displayed. Onthe sheet selection screen 1803, a row 1905 corresponding to thecassette 356 storing sheets of a paper type having a size of A3 and aname “CARDBOARD 3 (221 to 256 g/m2)” so as to indicate the paper type isselected to be used as a cover sheet to be attached to the book boundproduct.

If the CPU 402 detects on the sheet selection screen 1803 that the “OK”key 1906 has been pressed, a setting screen 1804 is display where aprint position on a cover sheet is set. In a case where all of the“PRINT” keys 1907 to 1910 are selected and are highlighted asillustrated on the setting screen 1804, double-sided printing on a coversheet by using “cardboard 3 (221 to 256 g/m2)” is set here. However,double-sided printing may not be executed on “cardboard 3 (221 to 256g/m2)” as illustrated in the paper management table illustrated in FIG.27.

If the CPU 402 detects that the “OK” key 1911 has been pressed on thesetting screen 1804, the binding portal screen 1805 is displayed wherethe “COVER” key 1912 is highlighted indicating that the setting forcovering a book bound product has completed. The CPU 402 holds thesettings received through the screens illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8F inthe DRAM 406.

If the start key 506 is pressed with the portal screen 1805 displayed,the CPU 402 provides a display warning 1806 that binding using cardboard3 as a cover sheet is not allowed to be set based on the settings storedin the DRAM 406 and the paper management table illustrated in FIG. 27.

On the portal screen 1805, if the CPU 402 detects that “OK” key 1913 hasbeen pressed, it may be controlled so as to provide the display warning1806 based on the settings stored in the DRAM 406 and the papermanagement table illustrated in FIG. 27.

In a case where, as illustrated in FIGS. 12A to 12C, the setting forperforming double-sided printing on a cover sheet is defined previously,the CPU 402 may shade a row 2701 corresponding to the cassette 356storing paper of cardboard 3 on the sheet selection screen 2601 so as toinhibit a user from selecting it. Because double-sided printing is notallowed to perform on cardboard 4 either, the CPU 402 may shade a rowcorresponding to the cassette 356 storing paper of cardboard 4 on thescreen illustrated in FIGS. 12A to 12C so as to inhibit a user fromselecting it.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 8D, “PRINT” keys 1908 and 1909highlighted as on the setting screen 1894 indicate that printing is tobe performed on the inner side of a cover sheet of “cardboard 3 (221 to256 g/m2)”. However, because double-sided printing and inversing cannotbe executed on cardboard 3 as in the paper management table illustratedin FIG. 27, a cover sheet having an image printed on its inner side maynot be added to the body.

If the CPU 402 detects on the setting screen 1804 that the “OK” key 1911has been pressed, a binding portal screen 1805 is displayed, and a“COVER” key 1912 is highlighted. This indicates that the setting forattaching a cover sheet to a book bound product has completed. The CPU402 holds the settings received through the screens illustrated in FIGS.8A to 8F in the DRAM 406.

If the start key 506 is pressed with the portal screen 1805 displayed,the CPU 402 provides a display warning 1806 that binding using cardboard3 as a cover sheet is not allowed to be set based on the settings storedin the DRAM 406 and the paper management table illustrated in FIG. 27.

On the portal screen 1805, if the CPU 402 detects that “OK” key 1913 hasbeen pressed, it may be controlled so as to provide the display warning1806 based on the settings stored in the DRAM 406 and the papermanagement table illustrated in FIG. 27.

In a case where, as illustrated in FIGS. 12A to 12C, the setting forperforming printing on the inner side of a cover sheet is definedpreviously, the CPU 402 may shade a row 2701 corresponding to thecassette 356 storing paper of cardboard 3 on the sheet selection screen2601 so as to inhibit a user from selecting it. Because double-sidedprinting is also not performed on cardboard 4, the CPU 402 may shade, onthe screens illustrated in FIGS. 12A to 12C, the row corresponding tothe cassette 356 storing paper of cardboard 4 to inhibit selection by auser.

While FIGS. 8A to 8F illustrate control examples in a case where a userdefines settings for discharging a leftward book bound product to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331, FIGS. 10A to 10F illustrate controlexamples in a case where a user defines setting for discharging aleftward book bound product to the stacking tray 328.

FIGS. 10A to 10F are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of ascreen transition of a binding setting screen displayed on the displayunit 505 in a case where a user defines settings for discharging aleftward book bound product to the stacking tray 328.

A portal screen 1401 is a screen to be displayed on the display unit 505for setting binding. On the portal screen 1401, a “NO FOLD” key 1502 ishighlighted which indicates that a book bound product is to bedischarged to the stacking tray 328.

If the CPU 402 detects on the portal screen 1401 that a “COVER” key 1503has been pressed, a setting screen 1402 is displayed on which a printposition of a cover sheet is set.

If the CPU 402 detects on the setting screen 1402 that a “CHANGE” key1504 has been pressed, a sheet selection screen 1403 is displayed. Onthe sheet selection screen 1403, a row 1505 corresponding to thecassette 356 storing sheets of a paper type having a size of A3 and aname “CARDBOARD 3 (221 to 256 g/m2)” so as to indicate the paper type isselected to be used as a cover sheet to be attached to the book boundproduct.

If the CPU 402 detects on the sheet selection screen 1403 that the “OK”key 1906 has been pressed, a setting screen 1404 is display where aprint position on a cover sheet is set. In a case where all of the“PRINT” keys 1507 to 1510 are selected and are highlighted asillustrated on the setting screen 1404, double-sided printing on a coversheet by using “cardboard 3 (221 to 256 g/m2)” is set here. However,double-sided printing may not be executed on “cardboard 3 (221 to 256g/m2)” as illustrated in the paper management table illustrated in FIG.27.

If the CPU 402 detects that the “OK” key 1511 has been pressed on thesetting screen 1404, the binding portal screen 1405 is displayed wherethe “COVER” key 1512 is highlighted indicating that the setting forcovering a book bound product has completed. The CPU 402 holds thesettings received through the screens illustrated in FIGS. 10A to 10F inthe DRAM 406.

If the start key 506 is pressed with the portal screen 1405 displayed,the CPU 402 provides a display warning 1406 that binding using cardboard3 as a cover sheet is not allowed to be set based on the settings storedin the DRAM 406 and the paper management table illustrated in FIG. 27.

On the portal screen 1405, if the CPU 402 detects that “OK” key 1513 hasbeen pressed, it may be controlled so as to provide the display warning1406 based on the settings stored in the DRAM 406 and the papermanagement table illustrated in FIG. 27.

In a case where, as illustrated in FIGS. 14A to 14C, the setting forperforming double-sided printing on a cover sheet is defined previously,a row 2301 corresponding to the cassette 356 storing paper of cardboard3 may be shaded on the sheet selection screen 2201 so as to inhibit auser from selecting it. Because double-sided printing is not allowed toperform on cardboard 4 either, the CPU 402 may shade a row correspondingto the cassette 356 storing paper of cardboard 4 on the screenillustrated in FIGS. 14A to 14C so as to inhibit a user from selectingit.

On the other hand, referring to FIGS. 10A to 10C, “PRINT” keys 1507 and1510 highlighted as on the setting screen 1604 indicate that printing isto be performed on the outer side of a cover sheet of “cardboard 3 (221to 256 g/m2)”. However, because double-sided printing cannot be executedon cardboard 3 as in the paper management table illustrated in FIG. 27,a cover sheet having an image printed on its outer side may not be addedto the body.

If the CPU 402 detects on the setting screen 1404 that the “OK” key 1511has been pressed, a binding portal screen 1405 is displayed, and a“COVER” key 1512 is highlighted, which indicates that the setting forattaching a cover sheet to a book bound product has completed. The CPU402 holds the settings received through the screens illustrated in FIGS.10A to 10F in the DRAM 406.

If the start key 506 is pressed with the portal screen 1405 displayed,the CPU 402 provides a display warning 1406 that binding using cardboard3 as a cover sheet is not allowed to be set based on the settings storedin the DRAM 406 and the paper management table illustrated in FIG. 27.

On the portal screen 1405, if the CPU 402 detects that “OK” key 1513 hasbeen pressed, it may be controlled so as to provide the display warning1406 based on the settings stored in the DRAM 406 and the papermanagement table illustrated in FIG. 27.

In a case where, as illustrated in FIGS. 14A to 14C, the setting forperforming printing on the outer side of a cover sheet is definedpreviously, the CPU 402 may control so as to shade a row 2301corresponding to the cassette 356 storing paper of cardboard 3 on thesheet selection screen 2201 to inhibit a user from selecting it. Becausedouble-sided printing is unexecutable on cardboard 4, the CPU 402 mayshade, on the screens illustrated in FIGS. 14A to 14C, the rowcorresponding to the cassette 356 storing paper of cardboard 4 toinhibit selection by a user.

Next, image layouts and printing results in a case where a bindinglayout process is executed and the printing result is discharged to thestacking tray 328 and in a case where a saddle stitch bookbindingprocess is executed and the printing result is discharged to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331 will be described more specificallywith reference to FIGS. 28A to 31B.

FIG. 28A is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a binding layout process which attaches acover sheet not requiring printing to a leftward book bound product isexecuted and the resulting book bound product is discharged to thestacking tray 328. For the discharge to the stacking tray 328, theimages 3331 of pages of a document may be laid out to images 3312, forexample, and be held in the DRAM 406. When the layout processingcompletes, printing is performed in order from the image of the sheetcorresponding to the innermost page of the book bound product to theimage of the sheet corresponding to the outermost page of the book boundproduct. In order to acquire the layout of the images 3312, the CPU 402prints in order of the back side of the first sheet (body), the frontside of the first sheet (body), the back side of the second sheet(body), the front side of the second sheet (body), the back side of thethird sheet (body), the front side of the third sheet (body). The CPU402 feeds the fourth sheet (cover sheet) at last. The conveyance rollers31 to 35 are caused to discharge the printed sheets to the stacking tray328. FIG. 28A illustrates the discharged printing result.

FIG. 28B is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a binding layout process which attaches acover sheet having undergone double-sided printing to a leftward bookbound product is executed and the resulting book bound product isdischarged to the stacking tray 328. For the discharge to the stackingtray 328, images 3321 of pages of a document may be laid out to images3322, for example, and be held in the DRAM 406. When the layoutprocessing completes, printing is performed in order from the image ofthe sheet corresponding to the innermost page of the book bound productto the image of the sheet corresponding to the cover sheet of the bookbound product. In order to acquire the layout of the images 3322, theCPU 402 controls the printing in the following order. That is, the CPU402 controls so as to print in order of the back side of the first sheet(body), the front side of the first sheet (body), the back side of thesecond sheet (body), the front side of the second sheet (body), the backside of the third sheet (body), the front side of the third sheet(body), the back side of the fourth sheet (cover sheet), the front sideof the fourth sheet (cover sheet). The conveyance rollers 31 to 35 arecaused to discharge the printed sheets to the stacking tray 328. FIG.28B illustrates the discharged printing result.

FIG. 29A is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a binding layout process which attaches acover sheet having an inner side printed to a leftward book boundproduct is executed and the resulting book bound product is dischargedto the stacking tray 328. For the discharge to the stacking tray 328,the images 3331 of pages of a document may be laid out to images 3332,for example, and be held in the DRAM 406. When the layout processingcompletes, printing is performed in order from the image of the sheetcorresponding to the innermost page of the book bound product to theimage of the sheet corresponding to the cover sheet of the book boundproduct. In order to acquire the layout of the images 3322, the CPU 402controls so as to print in the following order. That is, the CPU 402controls so as to print in order of the back side of the first sheet(body), the front side of the first sheet (body), the back side of thesecond sheet (body), the front side of the second sheet (body), the backside of the third sheet (body), the front side of the third sheet(body), the back side of the fourth sheet (cover sheet), the front sideof the fourth sheet (cover sheet). The CPU 402 prints the fourth sheet(cover sheet) at last. Here, in a case where a sheet on whichdouble-sided printing is not executable such as cardboard 3 andcardboard 4 in the paper management table in FIG. 27 is used as thecover sheet of the book bound product, the sheet is switched backthrough a conveying path 54 within the relay unit 56 illustrated in FIG.26. Thus, the sheet is reversed and discharged to the sheet dischargeport 59 with its printed side facing down. The conveyance rollers 31 to35 are caused to discharge the printed sheets to the stacking tray 328.FIG. 29A illustrates the discharged printing result. In other words,discharging a sheet on which double-sided printing is not executablelike cardboard 3 and cardboard 4 in the paper management table in FIG.27 to the stacking tray 328 allows printing to be performed only on theback side of the cover sheet and the front side of the back cover.

FIG. 29B is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a binding layout process which attaches acover sheet having an outer side printed to a leftward book boundproduct is executed and the resulting book bound product is dischargedto the stacking tray 328. For the discharge to the stacking tray 328,the images 3341 of pages of a document may be laid out to images 3342,for example, and be held in the DRAM 406. When the layout processingcompletes, printing is performed in order from the image of the sheetcorresponding to the innermost page of the book bound product to theimage of the sheet corresponding to the cover sheet of the book boundproduct. In order to acquire the layout of the images 3342, the CPU 402controls so as to print in the following order. That is, the CPU 402prints in order of the back side of the first sheet (body), the frontside of the first sheet (body), the back side of the second sheet(body), the front side of the second sheet (body), the back side of thethird sheet (body), the front side of the third sheet (body), the backside of the fourth sheet (cover sheet), the front side of the fourthsheet (cover sheet). The conveyance rollers 31 to 35 are caused todischarge the printed sheets to the stacking tray 328. FIG. 29Billustrates the discharged printing result.

FIG. 30A is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a saddle stitch bookbinding process whichattaches a cover sheet not requiring printing to a leftward book boundproduct is executed and the resulting book bound product is dischargedto the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. For the discharge to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331, the images 3351 of pages of adocument may be laid out to images 3352, for example, and be held in theDRAM 406. When the layout processing completes, printing is performed inorder from the image of the sheet corresponding to the innermost page ofthe book bound product to the image of the sheet corresponding to theoutermost page of the book bound product. In order to acquire the layoutof the images 3352, the CPU 402 controls so as to print in the followingorder. That is, the printing is executed in order of the back side ofthe first sheet (body), the front side of the first sheet (body), theback side of the second sheet (body), the front side of the second sheet(body), the back side of the third sheet (body), the front side of thethird sheet (body). The CPU 402 feeds the fourth sheet (cover sheet) atlast. After the printed sheets are conveyed by the conveyance rollers31, 37, and 38 until the rear end of the sheets reach a rear end sensor48, the sheets are switched back by the reverse rotations of theconveyance rollers 37 and 38 and are sequentially stored within theconveying path 41. A binding process and then a folding process areexecuted on the sheets, and the resulting sheets are discharged to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. FIG. 30A illustrates the dischargedprinting result.

FIG. 30B is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a saddle stitch bookbinding process whichattaches a cover sheet having undergone double-sided printing to aleftward book bound product is executed and the resulting book boundproduct is discharged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. For thedischarge to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331, images 3361 ofpages of a document may be laid out to images 3362, for example, and beheld in the DRAM 406. When the layout processing completes, printing isperformed in order from the image of the sheet corresponding to theinnermost page of the book bound product to the image of the sheetcorresponding to the cover sheet of the book bound product. In order toacquire the layout of the images 3362, the CPU 402 controls the printingin the following order. That is, the CPU 402 controls so as to print inorder of the back side of the first sheet (body), the front side of thefirst sheet (body), the back side of the second sheet (body), the frontside of the second sheet (body), the back side of the third sheet(body), the front side of the third sheet (body), the back side of thefourth sheet (cover sheet), the front side of the fourth sheet (coversheet). After the printed sheets are conveyed by the conveyance rollers31, 37 and 38 until the rear end of the sheets reach the rear end sensor48, the sheets are switched back by the reverse rotations of theconveyance rollers 37 and 38 and are sequentially stored within theconveying path 41. A binding process and then a folding process areexecuted on the sheets, and the resulting sheets are discharged to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. FIG. 30B illustrates the dischargedprinting result.

FIG. 31A is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a saddle stitch bookbinding process whichattaches a cover sheet having an inner side printed to a leftward bookbound product is executed and the resulting book bound product isdischarged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. For the dischargeto the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331, the images 3371 of pages of adocument may be laid out to images 3372, for example, and be held in theDRAM 406. When the layout processing completes, printing is performed inorder from the image of the sheet corresponding to the innermost page ofthe book bound product to the image of the sheet corresponding to thecover sheet of the book bound product. With the layout of the images3372, the CPU 402 prints in order of the back side of the first sheet(body), the front side of the first sheet (body), the back side of thesecond sheet (body), the front side of the second sheet (body), the backside of the third sheet (body), the front side of the third sheet(body), the back side of the fourth sheet (cover sheet), the front sideof the fourth sheet (cover sheet). After the printed sheets are conveyedby the conveyance rollers 31, 37, and 38 until the rear end of thesheets reach the rear end sensor 48, the sheets are switched back by thereverse rotations of the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 and aresequentially stored within the conveying path 41. A binding process andthen a folding process are executed on the sheets, and the resultingsheets are discharged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. FIG.31A illustrates the discharged printing result.

FIG. 31B is a diagram for explaining how pages of original images are tobe laid out in a case where a saddle stitch bookbinding process whichattaches a cover sheet having an outer side printed to a leftward bookbound product is executed and the resulting book bound product isdischarged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. For the dischargeto the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331, the image 3381 of pages of adocument may be laid out to images 3382, for example, and be held in theDRAM 406. When the layout processing completes, printing is performed inorder from the image of the sheet corresponding to the innermost page ofthe book bound product to the image of the sheet corresponding to thecover sheet of the book bound product. In order to acquire the layout ofthe images 3382, the CPU 402 prints in order of the back side of thefirst sheet (body), the front side of the first sheet (body), the backside of the second sheet (body), the front side of the second sheet(body), the back side of the third sheet (body), the front side of thethird sheet (body). The CPU 402 then controls so as to print the fourthsheet (cover sheet) at last. Here, in a case where a sheet on whichdouble-sided printing is not executable such as cardboard 3 andcardboard 4 in the paper management table in FIG. 27 is used as thecover sheet of the book bound product, the sheet is switched backthrough a conveying path 54 within the relay unit 56 illustrated in FIG.26. Thus, the sheet is reversed and discharged to the sheet dischargeport 59 with its printed side facing down. After the printed sheets areconveyed by the conveyance rollers 31, 37, and 38 until the rear end ofthe sheets reach a rear end sensor 48, the sheets are switched back bythe reverse rotations of the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 and aresequentially stored within the conveying path 41. A binding process andthen a folding process are executed on the sheets, and the resultingsheets are discharged to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. FIG.31B illustrates the discharged printing result. In other words,discharging a sheet on which double-sided printing is not executablelike cardboard 3 and cardboard 4 in the paper management table in FIG.27 to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331 allows printing to beperformed only on the front side of the cover sheet and the back side ofthe back cover.

In a case where a cover sheet having an inner side printed is attachedto a leftward book bound product, the processing for acquiring the bookbound product discharged to the stacking tray 328 and the processing foracquiring the book bound product discharged to the saddle-stitchbookbinding tray 331 only differ in the presence/absence of the bindingprocess and the folding process, as illustrated in FIG. 29A and FIG.31A. In a case where a cover sheet having an outer side printed isattached to a leftward book bound product, the processing for acquiringthe book bound product discharged to the stacking tray 328 and theprocessing for acquiring the book bound product discharged to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331 only differ in the presence/absenceof the binding process and the folding process, as illustrated in FIG.29B and FIG. 31B.

Next, a control procedure to be performed by the CPU 402 according tothe second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 32A to34B. The CPU 402 reads out and executes a program stored in the ROM 404to execute steps in the flowcharts in FIGS. 32A to 34B.

First, in response to a job execution request through the start key 506,the CPU 402 starts processing in the flowchart in FIGS. 32A and 32B. Forexample, in response to a copy job execution request for printing imagesof a document read by a scanner unit in the printer unit, the CPU 402performs the processing in the flowchart scanner 301 after all images ofthe document are read. In response to a print job execution request forprinting, in the printer unit, images received from an external PC, theCPU 402 performs the processing in the flowchart after all images arereceived from the PC.

First, in S1001 (where S stands for step), the CPU 402 determineswhether a binding process is designated or not. If it is determined thata binding process is designated, the CPU 402 advances the processing toS1003. If not, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S1002. Note that,before S1001, the CPU 402 may determine whether the sheet processingapparatus 315 in connection with the image formation apparatus. In thiscase, if it is determined that the sheet processing apparatus 315 is inconnection with the image formation apparatus, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S1001. If it is determined that the sheet processingapparatus 315 is not in connection with the image formation apparatus,the CPU 402 may advance the processing to S1002.

In S1002, the CPU 402 executes normal print processing based on settingsreceived from a user. Then, the processing ends. For example, printingis performed by the image formation apparatus, and the resulting sheetsare discharged without executing post-processing by the sheet processingapparatus 315.

On the other hand, when processing moves from S1001 to S1003, the CPU402 determines whether double-sided printing is executable on the sheetsdesignated to use for the body of a book bound product or not. If it isdetermined that double-sided printing is not executable on the sheetsdesignated to use for the body of the book bound product, the CPU 402advances the processing to S1004. On the other hand, if it is determinedthat double-sided printing is executable on the sheets designated to usefor the body of the book bound product, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S1005.

In S1004, the CPU 402 performs processing for forcibly aborting the job.Then, an error message illustrated in FIG. 23 is displayed on thedisplay unit 505. Then, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S1005, the CPU 402 determines whether a bindinglayout process with no folding is designated or not is determined. If itis determined that a binding layout process with no folding isdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S1006. On the otherhand, if it is determined that a binding layout process includingfolding is designated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S1007.

In S1006, the CPU 402 determines whether cover sheet printing isdesignated or not. If it is determined that cover sheet printing isdesignated, the CPU 402 moves the processing to S1009. If not, the CPU402 advances the processing to S1008.

In S1008, the CPU 402 executes booklet print processing illustrated inFIGS. 33A and 33B which discharges sheets to the stacking tray. Then,the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S1009, the CPU 402 determines whether double-sidedprinting is designated for the cover sheet or not. If it is determinedthat double-sided printing designated for the cover sheet, the CPU 402advances the processing to S1010. If not, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S1011.

In S1010, the CPU 402 determines whether double-sided printing isexecutable on the cover sheet to be attached to the book bound productor not based on the paper type designated to use for the cover sheet andthe paper management table illustrated in FIG. 27. A sheet on whichdouble-sided printing is executable can be inverted through theconveying path 57 for double-sided printing described with reference toFIG. 26. On the other hand, a sheet on which double-sided printing isunexecutable cannot be inverted through the conveying path 57 fordouble-sided printing described with reference to FIG. 26. If it isdetermined that double-sided printing is not executable on the sheet,the CPU 402 advances the processing to S1012. If it is determined thatdouble-sided printing is executable on the sheet, the CPU 402 advancesthe processing to S1008.

In S1012, the CPU 402 performs processing for forcibly aborting the job.Then, an error message illustrated in FIG. 24 is displayed on thedisplay unit 505. Then, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S1011 after S1009, the CPU 402 determines whetherprinting on the outer side of the cover sheet is designated or not. Ifit is determined that printing on the outer side of the cover sheet isdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S1013. If it isdetermined printing on the outer side of the cover sheet is notdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S1014.

In S1014, the CPU 402 executes booklet print processing illustrated inFIGS. 33A and 33B which discharges sheets to the stacking tray. Then,the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S1013, the CPU 402 determines whether double-sidedprinting is executable on the sheet for the cover sheet to be attachedto the book bound product. If not, the CPU 402 advances the processingto S1012. If so, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S1014.

On the other hand, in S1007, the CPU 402 determines whether printing onthe cover sheet is designated or not. If so, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S1016. If not, the CPU 402 advances the processing toS1015.

In S1015, the CPU 402 executes booklet printing processing illustratedin FIGS. 34A and 34B which discharges sheets to the binding processingtray. Then, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S1016, the CPU 402 determines whether double-sidedprinting is designated for the cover sheet or not. If it is determinedthat double-sided printing designated for the cover sheet, the CPU 402advances the processing to S1017. If not, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S1018.

In S1017, the CPU 402 determines whether double-sided printing isexecutable on the cover sheet to be attached to the book bound productor not. If it is determined that double-sided printing is not executableon the sheet, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S1019. If it isdetermined that double-sided printing is executable on the sheet, theCPU 402 advances the processing to S1015.

In S1019, the CPU 402 performs processing for forcibly aborting the job.Then, an error message illustrated in FIG. 24 is displayed on thedisplay unit 505. Then, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S1018, the CPU 402 determines whether printing onthe outer side of the cover sheet is designated or not. If it isdetermined that printing on the inner side of the cover sheet isdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S1020. If it isdetermined that printing on the inner side of the cover sheet is notdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S1021.

In S1021, the CPU 402 executes booklet printing processing illustratedin FIGS. 34A and 34B which discharges sheets to the binding processingtray. Then, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S1020, the CPU 402 determines whether double-sidedprinting is executable on the sheet for the cover sheet to be attachedto the book bound product or not. If not, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S1019. If so, the CPU 402 advances the processing toS1021.

FIGS. 33A and 33B illustrate a flowchart describing the booklet printingprocessing procedure in S1008 and S1014 in FIG. 32A which dischargessheets to a stacking tray.

First, in S2001, the CPU 402 determines whether printing on the coversheet is designated or not. If so, the CPU 402 advances the processingto S2003. If not, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S2002.

In S2002, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method as illustrated inFIG. 28A and advances the processing to S2004.

In S2004, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S2005.

In S2005, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the body to the stacking tray 328 without executing abinding process and a folding process and advances the processing toS2006.

In S2006, the CPU 402 determines whether attachment of a cover sheet isdesignated or not. If it is determined that cover sheet is designated toattach, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S2007. If not, theprocessing ends.

In S2007, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet to the stacking tray 328 withoutexecuting a binding process and a folding process. Then, the processingends.

On the other hand, in S2003 after S2002, the CPU 402 determines whetherprinting on both sides of the cover sheet is designated or not. If it isdetermined that printing on both sides of the cover sheet is designated,the CPU 402 advances the processing to S2008. If not, the CPU 402advances the processing to S2009.

In S2008, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method as illustrated inFIG. 28B and advances the processing to S2010.

In S2010, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S2011.

In S2011, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the body to the stacking tray 328 without executing abinding process and a folding process.

In S2012, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet and advances the processing to S2013.

In S2013, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet to the stacking tray 328 withoutexecuting a binding process and a folding process. Then, the processingends.

On the other hand, in S2009 after S2003, the CPU 402 determines whetherprinting on the inner side of the cover sheet is designated or not. Ifit is determined that printing on the inner side of the cover sheet isdesignated, the 402 advances the processing to S2014. If not, the CPU402 advances the processing to S2015.

In S2014, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method as illustrated inFIG. 29A, and advances the processing to S2016.

In S2016, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S2017.

In S2017, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the body to the stacking tray 328 without executing abinding process and a folding process.

In S2018, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet and advances the processing to S2019.

In S2019, the CPU 402 discharges the sheet corresponding to the coversheet to the sheet discharge port 59 with its printed side facing downwithout executing a binding process and a folding process. Then, theprocessing ends.

On the other hand, in S2015, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method asillustrated in FIG. 29B and advances the processing to S2020.

In S2020, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S2021.

In S2021, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetscorresponding to the body to the stacking tray 328 without executing abinding process and a folding process.

In S2022, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet and advances the processing to S2023.

In S2023, the CPU 402 discharges the sheet after the fixing process withits printed side facing down to the relay unit 56 and is switched backby the internal structure of the relay unit 56 and is conveyed to theconveying path 57 for double-sided printing. The sheet again passesthrough the fixing unit 55, and the CPU 402 advances the processing toS2024.

In S2024, the CPU 402 controls so as to discharge the sheetcorresponding to the cover sheet with its printed side facing down tothe sheet discharge port 59 and discharge the sheet corresponding to thecover sheet without executing a binding process and a folding process tothe stacking tray 328. Then, the processing ends.

FIGS. 34A and 34B illustrate a flowchart describing the booklet printingprocessing procedure in S1015 and S1021 in FIG. 32B which dischargessheets to a binding processing tray.

First, in S3001, the CPU 402 determines whether a saddle stitch processis designated or not. If it is determined that a saddle stitch processis designated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S3002. If not, theCPU 402 advances the processing to S3005.

In S3002, the CPU 402 calculates the number of output sheets for onecopy of the resulting book bound product and advances the processing toS3003. In a case where images of two pages are laid out in one page asillustrated in FIG. 30A, the number of output sheets per copy may becalculated by expression that (the total number of pages+3)/4.

In S3003, the CPU 402 determines whether the number of output sheets percopy is higher than the number of sheets which can undergo saddle stitchprocessing to be performed by the sheet processing apparatus 315. Thenumber of sheets which can undergo saddle stitch processing to beperformed by the sheet processing apparatus 315 is stored in the ROM 404as capability information of the sheet processing apparatus 315. If itis higher than the number of sheets which can undergo saddle stitchprocessing, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S3004. If not, theCPU 402 advances the processing to S3005.

In S3004, the CPU 402 performs processing for forcibly aborting the job.Then, an error pop-up message illustrated in FIG. 25 is displayed on thedisplay unit 505. Then, the processing ends. The example has beendescribed above that if it is determined in S3003 that the number ofoutput sheets per copy is higher than the number of sheets which canundergo saddle stitch processing, the CPU 402 advances the processing toS3004 and that an error pop-up message illustrated in FIG. 25 is thendisplayed on the display unit 505. However, the present invention is notlimited thereto. If it is determined in S3003 that the number of outputsheets per copy is higher than the number of sheets which can undergosaddle stitch processing, the CPU 402 may advance the processing toS2001 in FIG. 33A and may execute the booklet printing processingprocedure which discharges the sheets to the stacking tray.

On the other hand, in S3005, the CPU 402 determines whether printing onthe cover sheet is designated or not. If so, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S3007. If not, the CPU 402 advances the processing toS3006.

In S3006, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method as illustrated inFIG. 30A and advances the processing to S3008.

In S3008, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S3009.

In S3009, the CPU 402 controls so as to switch back the sheetscorresponding to the body through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 andthen store them within the conveying path 41.

In S3010, the CPU 402 determines whether attachment of a cover sheet isdesignated or not. If it is determined that cover sheet is designated toattach, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S3011. If not, theprocessing ends.

In S3011, the CPU 402 switches back the sheet corresponding to the coversheet through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 and then stores it withinthe conveying path 41. The CPU 402 controls so as to executesaddle-stitch process and then a folding process and discharge the bookbound product to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. Then, theprocessing ends.

On the other hand, in S3007, the CPU 402 determines whether printing onboth sides of the cover sheet is designated or not. If it is determinedthat printing on both sides of the cover sheet is designated, the CPU402 advances the processing to S3012. If not, the CPU 402 advances theprocessing to S3013.

In S3012, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method as illustrated inFIG. 30B and advances the processing to S3014.

In S3014, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S3015.

In S3015, the CPU 402 controls so as to switch back the sheetscorresponding to the body through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 andthen store them within the conveying path 41.

In S3016, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet and advances the processing to S3017.

In S3017, the CPU 402 switches back the sheet corresponding to the coversheet through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 and then stores it withinthe conveying path 41. The CPU 402 controls so as to executesaddle-stitch process and then a folding process and discharge the bookbound product to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. Then, theprocessing ends.

On the other hand, in S3013, the CPU 402 determines whether printing onthe inner side of the cover sheet is designated or not. If it isdetermined that printing on the inner side of the cover sheet isdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S3018. If it isdetermined printing on the inner side of the cover sheet is notdesignated, the CPU 402 advances the processing to S3019.

In S3018, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method as illustrated inFIG. 31A, and advances the processing to S3020.

In S3020, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S3021.

In S3021, the CPU 402 controls so as to switch back the sheetscorresponding to the body through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 andthen store them within the conveying path 41.

In S3022, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet and advances the processing to S3023.

In S3023, the CPU 402 discharges the sheet after the fixing process withits printed side facing down to the relay unit 56 and is switched backby the internal structure of the relay unit 56 and is conveyed to theconveying path 57 for double-sided printing. The sheet again passesthrough the fixing unit 55, and the CPU 402 advances the processing toS3024.

In S3024, the CPU 402 discharges the sheet to the sheet discharge port59 with its printed side facing up. After that, the CPU 402 switchesback the sheet corresponding to the cover sheet through the conveyancerollers 37 and 38 and then stores it within the conveying path 41. TheCPU 402 controls so as to execute saddle-stitch process and then afolding process and discharge the book bound product to thesaddle-stitch bookbinding tray 331. Then, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S3019, the CPU 402 lays out pages by the method asillustrated in FIG. 31B and advances the processing to S3025.

In S3025, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the body and advances the processing to S3026.

In S3026, the CPU 402 controls so as to switch back the sheetscorresponding to the body through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 andthen store them within the conveying path 41.

In S3027, the CPU 402 performs image formation processing on sheetscorresponding to the cover sheet and advances the processing to S3028.

In S3028, the CPU 402 switches back the sheet corresponding to the coversheet through the conveyance rollers 37 and 38 and then stores it withinthe conveying path 41. The CPU 402 controls so as to perform a bindingprocess and a folding process and discharge the saddle-stitchbookbinding tray 331. The processing ends then.

As described above, in a case where a sheet on which double-sidedprinting is unexecutable is used as a cover sheet of a book boundproduct, the sheet is discharged to a sheet processing apparatus havinga switch back mechanism so that its printed side may face down. Thus, abook bound product with a cover sheet having an image printed on itsouter side may be acquired in the binding processing tray.

Other Embodiments

Having described that how pages of images of a document are to be laidout in order to generate a leftward book bound product according to theaforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to aleftward book bound product.

Having descried various examples and embodiments according to thepresent invention above, it should be understood by a person skilled inthe art that the spirit and scope of the present invention is notlimited to specific descriptions herein.

The present invention may be implemented by processing includingsupplying a program which implements one or more functions of theaforementioned embodiments to a system or an apparatus over a network orthrough a storage medium and reading and executing the program by one ormore processors in a computer of the system or apparatus. The presentinvention may also be implemented by a circuit (such as an ASIC) whichimplements the one or more functions.

Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computerof a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one ormore of the above-described embodiment(s) of the present invention, andby a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more ofa central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or othercircuitry, and may include a network of separate computers or separatecomputer processors. The computer executable instructions may beprovided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storagemedium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of ahard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), astorage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing apparatus capable of conveying sheetsto a sheet processing apparatus in which the sheets each having an imageprinted is switched back and the inverted sheets are folded to generatea book bound product, the printing apparatus comprising: a printing unitconfigured to print an image on a cover sheet to be attached to the bookbound product; and a control unit configured to control so as to notifyan error to a user based on the type of a sheet to be used as the coversheet in a case where printing an image on the cover sheet isdesignated.